This Q&A with Brio Founder and Private Wealth Advisor Brandon Miller explores how the firm’s pioneering approach to values-aligned investing empowers LGBTQ+ clients to express their identity, purpose, and activism through their portfolios.

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As the firm behind what they call “one of the first queer-centric investment strategies,” Brio has been a pioneer in values-aligned investing. Their approach begins with a simple but powerful idea: your portfolio should be as unique as you are. This is especially true for many LGBTQ+ individuals and families, who see financial planning as inseparable from questions of identity, community, and purpose. Their “Brio Pride Portfolio” and customizable strategies powered by Ethic help clients integrate these unique values into their investments. 

But what sets Brio apart isn’t just their investment strategy—it’s the broader client experience that surrounds it. They aim to make investing approachable, personal, and even fun. To do that, Brio goes beyond traditional financial planning, calling themselves “community builders, storytellers, and allies.” They partner with clients to navigate deep conversations around the purpose of money and the role it plays in shaping a meaningful life and legacy.

As we celebrate Pride and reflect on the many forms activism can take, Brio reminds us that how we invest our money is one of the most powerful ways to make our values visible. In the conversation that follows, Brio Founder and Private Wealth Advisor Brandon Miller shares more about their mission, their clients, and the change they’re working to create.

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Ethic:  How can someone’s portfolio reflect who they are and what they stand for?

Brandon Miller: Your portfolio can—and should—be a reflection of your values. We’ve seen clients steer clear of companies like Tesla or big tobacco, not because they don’t make money, but because they don’t align with their personal beliefs. One client, whose mother passed away from lung cancer, made it clear: no investments in tobacco, ever. On the flip side, she specifically wanted to invest in biotech companies working on cancer treatments because they want to be part of the solution.

We believe investing is another form of expressing who you are. Your values evolve as your life does—and your portfolio can evolve right alongside. Think of it as philanthropy-adjacent, like a modern-day Medici model. You’re not just chasing returns; you’re shaping the future. At Brio, we’re honored to help steward that journey.

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Ethic:  How has being part of the LGBTQ+ community shaped your view of financial planning?

BM: Being part of a community that’s had to create its own roadmap teaches you a lot. We know life doesn’t always follow the “traditional” script—so why should financial plans?

Many of our clients aren’t planning to pass on wealth to a next generation, but instead are focused on how they can live well, give back, and maybe even spend it all with purpose. Because we’ve lived the need for legal protections and workaround strategies, we’re especially tuned into the nuances that can make a big difference.

Our approach is deeply personal, rooted in behavioral finance and understanding each client’s relationship with money. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about living fully, on your own terms.

It’s also about giving back to a community that has given so much to me. Supporting organizations fighting the good fight is at the heart of Brio. 

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Ethic:  What makes Brio’s Pride Portfolio different from other options?

BM: Simply put? It’s fabulous and fierce. While many ESG portfolios that are readily available cast a wide net, Brio and Ethic partnered together utilizing Ethic’s technical reporting and research to create a strategy that focuses more on civil rights and social justice as two of its top priorities. It’s not just about checking ESG boxes—it’s about honoring the lived experiences of our clients and community.

Thanks to smarter tech and deeper data, we’re able to build portfolios that reflect Brio’s core values—and yours. Even better, we can customize portfolios so clients can go as deep as they want on the issues they care most about. It’s activism, legacy, and community building—all wrapped into one smart investment strategy.

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Ethic:  Why do you think now is a critical time for values-aligned investing?

BM: We’re in a moment where rights and protections are being challenged, and for many of us, it feels deeply personal. Values-aligned investing gives you another way to speak up, especially when voting alone doesn’t always bring about change.

This is about compounding more than dollars—it’s about compounding impact. Investing with intention helps build a future that reflects our values. The best time to get started? Right now. Because the world doesn’t get better on its own—it gets better when we show up.

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Ethic:  What makes you most proud of the work you do at Brio?

BM: It’s the people, always. Our team, our clients, the community we get to be part of—it’s all built on shared values and the courage to show up authentically.

We’ve helped clients make bold life moves: changing careers, retiring early, taking dream sabbaticals. They come back and say, “You told me I could do this, and I did.” That never gets old.

It’s also the ripple effect—teaching, mentoring, and watching the next generation grow, not just financially, but in confidence and purpose. We’re lucky to do this work, to walk alongside people in every stage of life, and help them build a life that truly reflects who they are.

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