Several months ago I handed in my resignation, bringing seven years of hard work, progression and contribution to my employer’s business to an end. 

It wasn’t a decision made lightly; seven years is the longest I’ve ever worked for anyone, and I have a huge amount of mutual respect and personal rapport with my former colleagues and the business owners.

You could say the decision came about as a result of both the climate emergency and a career epiphany, with lockdown having an influence too. 

I’m now the director of Overstory Finance, a business consultancy designed to support and encourage advisers with their sustainable investment proposition and advice.

It’s a once in a lifetime moment, but how did I get here?

My oldest daughter is a climate activist and her concerns about the environment and the associated threats to human wellbeing have heavily influenced my thinking. 

We used to find it funny on family holidays when she’d carry food and drink packaging around all day until she found a recycling facility. Eventually, her commitment and concern became too obvious to ignore. 

From forging a career in conservation and environmental science, to becoming a vegan, campaigner and ethical consumer, it was when she said she wouldn’t have children in such an uncertain world that really made me want to stand alongside her in the fight for change.

Applying sustainability to our world

Against this backdrop, I relished the opportunity to help build my former employer’s sustainable investment proposition from 2018 onwards.

Last year saw even more of a sustainable focus for me, what with pandemic disruption and as our home city of Glasgow readied itself for the COP26 conference next month. As it happens, the mobilisation of finance to help tackle climate change is one of the event’s key goals.

I also took the CFA certificate in ESG investing, and threw myself into the sustainability community in a way I couldn’t have done before the whole world got together on Zoom. 

I hosted a podcast and attended many online events, interacting with fund managers, authors, entrepreneurs, academics and campaigners along the way.

While I soaked up vast quantities of information, I realised it would be totally pointless if I didn’t then put that knowledge to good use. 

As lockdown came to an end and my employers sold their business, I couldn’t bear to set aside the ideas and effort I’d applied in developing the firm’s sustainable investment proposition.

That led to my second realisation -  that the time had come to muster the courage to work for myself. This is something I’d previously considered and discarded, for fear of not being able to support my family.

But after all the pandemic changes, I felt ready somehow for more disruption.

My experience in the advice profession spans compliance, paraplanning, proposition development, communications, management and adviser supervision.

When combined with my new knowledge and skills in sustainable investment advice, it was all pointing like a big luminous green arrow to one thing – the launch of a consultancy service, offering tools, training and processes to advisers wanting to build a robust sustainable investment proposition. 

Behind the name

First things first, I needed a name. There was a long list of ideas and some frantic emails to friends and family for their views, but sadly no consensus.

It was my husband that came up with Overstory, a reference to Richard Power’s prize-winning novel The Overstory. 

I didn’t know this at the time, but ‘overstory’ is actually the American word for forest canopy. There’s the environmental connection, and the fact I was fondly known as the office ‘tree hugger’. Add the fact that the book was an epic read, and I had myself a name.

I also like the concept that those of us who advocate sustainability are like trees in a forest. We can grow alone, but are much stronger when we stand together.

There’s a quote from the book which is pertinent to my aim to help as many advisers as possible to have mutually beneficial client conversations about sustainability:

"The best arguments in the world won’t change a person’s mind. The only thing that can do that is a good story."

The story so far

I’ve spent the last couple of months pulling things together alongside a new part-time role in an IFA project management role.

A lot of people have been sounded out about my ideas for the business, and I’ve been overwhelmed by the support and encouragement I’ve received. It’s confirmed to me there are a lot of kind and generous people in this industry.

I identified the areas I would need expert help with, such as marketing and branding, and found people I am excited to be working with.

As I started to talk to people, I was invited to speak at events, both within financial services and those connected to COP26. This has been a rewarding confidence boost.

Just one year ago I was attending similar events as an audience member, hoping my question would get answered. And now here I am, being introduced as a sustainable investment expert.

For a COP26 fringe event, I co-ordinated a session on the future of sustainable investing and financial services for an audience aged 35 and under.

There was some great feedback, including that it was the first time they’d found financial services interesting. One of them even got in touch afterwards to ask about career opportunities.

I’m aware that one person only has so much reach, so I’ve started to work with other experts and advocates to broaden what I can achieve. 

In time, I’m going to develop educational materials and a new qualification for advice staff who want to improve their sustainable investment knowledge and advice skills.

I’m also working on a client communication tool, and looking at other initiatives relating to standard setting and investment research.

In the words of UN high level climate action champion Nigel Topping, the race to net zero is not a competitive one – it’s one we all win or we all lose.

You can find out more about Overstory Finance by clicking here.

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Rebecca is one of over 1,200 advice professionals who make up the lang cat's insight panel. By sharing their knowledge and perspective, we get a little window into your world - and hopefully can influence things in the wider financial services universe too. You too can add your voice into the mix - find out more about the panel and sign up here.