From The Desk of Georgia Lee Hussey: My Thoughts on grief, wise action, and money pauses
Friends,
Like you, I’m heavy-hearted and deeply concerned about the results of this election. I’ve spent the last week thinking and listening and reading and asking as a way to start imagining how I, and Modernist, could resist the goals of the next administration by aligning our wealth actions with our values.
Deeply engrained in Modernist’s progressive mission is the desire to act for the benefit of all, in addition to ourselves and our families. Our clients and team and communities share this common value.
CONSIDERING WISE ACTION
FIRST I’m making space to process and rest and grieve … to make space to consider how to gather people and resources to prevent Project 2025 from becoming a reality, how to minimize harm to those with fewer resources, and how to localize our efforts to fight for the civil rights under threat and the future we want.
SECOND I’m choosing one area to focus my actions. There are so many areas under threat, but I’ve chosen to focus on civil rights.
THIRD When I say “my wealth”, I’m not just talking cash or investments, I’m listing my assets within all five elements of wealth: time, money, relationships, skills, well-being.
But since I’m in the money business, I’ve increased my monthly giving to include more of the lawyers fighting for the rights of immigrants and LBTQIA+ folks, the lawyers fighting hate and for free speech. I’m also acknowledging that the next administration’s economic goals are designed to benefit upper income folks (above $120k) with assets outside 401ks/IRAs. So I’m considering how tax and investment gains over the next four years could be channeled to fight for justice.
As I, and we, make space to consider what taking action could look like in the coming days, months, years, and decades, I hope the idea of choosing a focus area and then using a broader definition of “wealth” for supporting action can be helpful for you, too.
TURN TO THE ARTS
As usual, I’m turning to artists and musicians to help me stay energized to keep pulling the moral arc of the universe towards justice.
I’M READING
Rebecca Solnit’s classic Hope in the Dark (again)
I’m reading poems of Protest, Resistance, and Empowerment
Waging Non-violence’s 10 Things To Do Now that Trump Has Won
I’M LISTENING
Heather Cox Richardson contextualizes our historic fights for freedom and democracy
Fiona Apple’s “Relay” and fan-made video are a rallying call that reminds me why I can’t move forward with hate in my heart if I want to fight fiercely for our rights and democracy.
But I know that if I hate you for hating me
I will have entered the endless race
Evil is a relay sport
When the one who's burnt / Turns to pass the torch
MONEY PAUSE
It’s critical in times like these to remember that financial decisions should be made in the context of your plan rather than in reaction to external events. Modernist portfolios are designed to be resilient in down-markets and efficient in up markets, by relying on evidence-based methods.
Revisit Modernist on Money & Politics or our Down Market Resources for more historical data and resources.
In solidarity and resilience,
Georgia