Introduction & Guest Overview
- Introduction of Rachel McDonough, her expertise and background with head and heart investing.
- Series context: Final episode in a four-part series on impact investing.
- Rachel’s roles: Financial advisor, board member, author, speaker.
- Personal background: Living in Minneapolis, mother of three.
Balancing Family and Professional Life
- Juggling parenting (of teenagers) with a demanding career.
- Partnership with her husband in the parenting journey.
- Different phases of parenting and adapting to children’s changing needs.
Rachel’s Personal Story and Calling
- Growing up as a missionary kid in Kenya.
- Early confrontations with poverty, privilege, and economic disparity.
- Wrestling with questions about responsibility, opportunity, and stewardship as a Christian.
Mindset and Philosophy on Wealth & Stewardship
- The concept of stewarding resources versus ownership.
- Impact of beliefs about stewardship on charitable giving and investment decisions.
- Integrating God’s values into financial management.
Impact Investing: Motivation and Experience
- Differences between traditional investment risk motivation and faith-driven investing.
- Examples of risk for the sake of compassion or values, not just financial return.
- How motivation changes investor reactions to both gains and losses.
- Importance of clarity on purpose and aligning investments with values.
Rachel’s Career Path in Finance
- Entry into the financial field (Merrill Lynch), overcoming self-doubt.
- Perceptions of self as a creative vs. analytical person.
- Discovery of her unique niche at the intersection of worship and finance.
Biblically Responsible and Impact Investing
- Evolution of Biblically Responsible Investing (from exclusionary screening to positive engagement).
- Importance of aligning investments with Christian values (case examples: abortion, tobacco).
- Upstream thinking: funding solutions (not problems) via investment choices.
- The act of investing as a form of worship and stewardship.
Rachel’s Board Roles and Organizational Impact
- Talent: Focus on scalable business investments in East Africa for job creation and economic growth.
- Eagle Ventures: Venture capital fund fighting human trafficking via technology and innovation.
- Role of investment capital in driving social change and industry transformation.
Integrating Family into Vocational Purpose
- Navigating family-sacrifice tradeoffs as an impact-driven professional mom.
- Example: Involving her children in decisions (traveling for anti-trafficking work).
- Testimony about balancing family needs with activism and calling.
Rachel’s Financial Planning Approach
- Primary use of virtual client meetings.
- Difference between traditional and values-driven financial planning.
- Starting with definitions of success, family mission, vision, and values.
- Wealth as a creative medium for God’s purposes.
- Supporting clients through honest discernment, education, and regret-free decision-making.
Navigating Generosity and Financial Decisions as Couples
- Influence of upbringing on charitable giving and financial philosophy.
- Challenges of aligning spousal perspectives and values.
- The ongoing journey of finding financial finish lines and purposeful generosity.
Overcoming Adversity and Limiting Beliefs
- Rachel’s internal struggles with imposter syndrome and perceived qualification.
- Resilience and persistence in professional development.
- Lessons from career adjustments when facing health challenges and business setbacks.
- The importance of discerning truth in the face of self-doubt.
Integrating Head and Heart in Giving and Investing
- Traditional separation of emotion (heart) and logic (head) in philanthropy and investing.
- Rachel’s advocacy for integration, especially encouraging women’s involvement.
- Feminine qualities (empathy, compassion, courage) as key assets for impact investing.
Calls to Action & Opportunities for Listeners
- Invitation to join all-female or coed cohorts for learning about faith-driven investing.
- The significance of engaging women in the investment conversation.
- Resource sharing: emails, upcoming cohort information, and collaborative learning opportunities.
Closing Reflections
- Rachel’s favorite Bible verse and why it matters to her.
- Book recommendation: “The Secrets of the Secret Place” by Bob Sorge.
- Recent practical life hack/bargain story.
- Wrap-up with gratitude and encouragement to the audience for engaging in generous, purpose-driven living.
