Climate Risk & Sustainable Insurance

"Action is the antidote. And by antidote, meaning, feeling detached or frustrated with the way things are going. Whenever I start to feel frustrated with a situation or with a policy I try to remind myself action is the answer." 

- Nathan Irons, Founder & CEO, Bluestone Life

Nathan Irons believes that life insurance has a role to play in preserving the climate for future generations. He specifically believes if you're trying to protect your family, you are likely to want to protect your community and your planet. The investment reserves that back their policies are invested in impact-related investments. These are just a couple of the ways that an insurance can follow through with their committment to support future generations.

In our conversation we asked Nathan:

• What is sustainable insurance?
• What he's hearing from insurers in response to the Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton of 2024?
• How is sustainable insurance making a difference in risk management markets?
• How his firm is incorporating sustainable insurance practices?
• Bluestone's unique “Climate Risk Assessment” service for homeowners

You can watch or just listen here:

Jason Howell Company is a family wealth management firm that strengthens the finances of families making the transition from first generation success to family wealth. We envision a world where wealthy families give, grow and govern themselves in ways that enrich their local communities. We do this by reducing the fear, isolation and guilt associated with financial success.

Jason J. Howell, CFP®, CPWA®, CSRIC® and Douglas W. Tees, MBA, CFP® CAP®, CBDA  have spent a lot of time in the Washington, DC area, and are aware that many people who are first generation wealth suffer from a kind of "financial imposter syndrome."  Successful entrepreneurs and family businesses are always looking over their shoulder; government contractors worry about the next contract; former Capitol Hill staffers privately wonder if they should "feel bad" for the money they now make. Imposter syndrome is common among people who work for the many corporate headquarters based in this area as well. These feelings get in the way of properly managing family wealth. We empower them to get organized, build a team of advisors and make decisions.

Our typical "first generation wealth" families include dual income parents who work, save and have just the right amount of fun. For long-time, family owned businesses we focus on much family preservation as we do wealth preservation. 

First generation wealth success stories and family business owners realize that they:

• Need to “do something” with the cash in their checking/savings
• Need to eventually diversify their portfolio away from the family business
• Need an investment strategy for “up” and “down” markets
• Need a plan to mitigate market, credit, inflation, and political risks
• Need to start tax planning instead of just tax paying
• Need to be sure they are choosing the right work benefits
• Need to reduce financial miscommunications between family members
• Need to separate business finances from personal finances
• Need to separate family wealth from individual wealth
• Need a plan to provide space for both family and individual philanthropy 
• Need to plan for money while alive and for what happens after death