Financial goals evolve and more advisors are using technology to balance profit with purpose. Investors today want portfolios that don’t just perform well but also make a positive difference. Unsurprisingly, the concept of “impact investing” was coined and impact investing platforms have since emerged.
Impact investing platforms help advisors and RIAs align client portfolios with social and environmental goals. They integrate real-time analytics, reporting dashboards, and investment models to show how capital can drive social impact.
Modern investors, especially millennials and Gen Z, want their portfolios to reflect their values. They prefer to invest in companies and projects that address real-world challenges while getting returns. For financial professionals, impact investing brings new opportunities for aligning values, building client loyalty, and enhancing brand credibility.
According to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), the global impact investing market has reached approximately $1.571 trillion as of 2024. Among US providers, Envestnet and AssetMark have integrated impact investing capabilities that give advisors direct access to responsible investing solutions.
Increasingly, turnkey asset management platforms (TAMPs) are integrating these impact investing tools into their systems. This makes responsible investing more accessible for advisors. Today, impact investing spans a wide range of sectors, including renewable energy, inclusive housing, sustainable agriculture, and microfinance.
Learn more about emerging TAMP innovations in this guide.
Envestnet is one of the largest technology providers in the advisory space. Supporting about one-third of all financial advisors nationwide, it oversees more than $6.5 trillion in assets and over 20 million investor accounts. This scale allows Envestnet to offer more than a standard portfolio management system.
Here are just some of the functions associated with this platform:
The focus on “financial wellness as a service” changes how advisors support clients. Instead of focusing only on performance, the platform helps strengthen clients’ overall financial well-being. It allows advisors to assess, plan, and track long-term progress across multiple areas such as retirement readiness, cash flow, or debt management. This broader view encourages smarter financial behaviour.
Envestnet’s ecosystem combines wealth management, financial planning, and sustainability tools into a single platform. Advisors gain access to deep insights through:
This interconnected approach gives a comprehensive view of client finances, allowing advisors and RIAs to deliver more personalized and proactive advice. Here’s a video explaining more on Envestnet:
Envestnet’s sustainable investing portfolios combine environmental, social, and governance data directly into workflows. Its ESG investing tools allow screening and selection of securities that meet ethical criteria. Advisors can build and manage portfolios that balance performance with purpose.
Just as important are the platform’s impact measurement tools, which provide real-time reports that track how investments create social or environmental value. This transparency helps clients see how their portfolio contributes to measurable outcomes.
Envestnet continually refines its interface and reporting capabilities to support daily operations. Key usability improvements include:
These updates make it easier for advisors to translate complex data into simple and actionable insights.
Envestnet’s technology is both modular and scalable, which allows firms to modify it to their size and needs. Large RIAs can access deep customization and advanced analytics while smaller ones can benefit from plug-and-play integrations. The platform connects with custodians, fintech partners, and third-party data sources for a unified experience.
Envestnet combines advanced analytics and sustainability. By turning financial data into actionable intelligence, it allows advisors to deliver measurable and purposeful outcomes.
Check out our special report on the best technology and software providers for investment professionals to get to know the industry's most innovative players.
Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Concord, California, AssetMark is a leading turnkey asset management platform (TAMP), managing over $77 billion in assets across thousands of advisors. The firm’s goal is to create curated investment solutions, robust technology, and hands-on support.
AssetMark makes socially responsible investing easily accessible. Its values-based portfolios and ESG-driven models allow advisors to customize investments according to client priorities. For example, investment could be focused on environmental sustainability, corporate ethics, or community impact.
There’s also a simplified impact dashboard to measure and report on tangible outcomes. Advisors can show clients how their investments contribute to positive social and environmental change. This approach makes impact investing a core part of everyday wealth management.
AssetMark’s wealth management technology is designed to simplify operations while improving client collaboration. Its digital platform integrates tools for portfolio construction, investment research, and client communication. Key features include:
This technology helps advisors work more efficiently while providing positive client experience.
Beyond technology, AssetMark maintains a focus on client service. The firm has earned recognition for its corporate social responsibility and diversity initiatives. Advisors benefit from dedicated consulting and platform support teams that act as extensions of their practices. These teams provide strategic guidance and operational assistance.
Its scalable model also allows firms to expand without losing the personal touch that clients value.
Here’s more about AssetMark:
AssetMark impact investing platforms give advisors ready-made solutions with expert guidance and user-friendly technology. For those seeking to integrate social responsibility into client portfolios without sacrificing efficiency or scale, AssetMark may be a practical option.
Envestnet and AssetMark impact investing platforms take different approaches to portfolio management. Here’s a side-by-side comparison:
| Feature of impact investing platforms | Envestnet | AssetMark |
|---|---|---|
| Focus of impact investing platforms | Data analytics, modular technology, financial wellness | Scalable service, values-based portfolio |
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ESG investing evaluates a company’s environmental, social, and governance practices to manage risk or identify opportunities. Impact investing goes beyond this by actively contributing to solutions by targeting social or environmental outcomes.
Impact investing attracts a wide variety of investors. This includes:
Gen Z investors are largely interested in having impactful investments in their portfolio.
Yes. Impact investors can seek risk-adjusted, market-rate returns while achieving social or environmental impact. According to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), many impact investors report meeting or surpassing their financial expectations.
Impact investing is defined by:
The global impact investing market is estimated to be about $1.571 trillion as of 2024, with impact investing platforms matching that shift in demand.
Investors should ask questions such as:
Modern TAMPs may include CRM integration, back-office support, model blending, unified managed accounts (UMAs), risk-management tools, and impact/ESG options.
One misconception is that TAMPs reduce an advisor’s value. In fact, partnering with a TAMP often allows advisors to offer more specialized strategies (including socially responsible ones) and focus more on holistic advice.
Not necessarily. While some TAMPs offer a restricted menu of models, many allow portfolio customization, model blending, and use of multiple strategies to meet client preferences.
The rise of impact investing platforms signals a lasting change in how advisors and investors view success. It’s no longer enough to simply pursue growth. Instead, today’s portfolios must also create value beyond financial returns. Platforms like Envestnet and AssetMark show how technology can make that possible.
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