Published On : 05/17/2024

Unpacking Potential Societal Impacts of Making Empathetic Investment Strategies Available to More People

Children can be deeply affected when they observe their parents navigating financial challenges. Such an experience colored Dré Villeroy’s life and informed his business choices. After early successes and serious setbacks in his entrepreneurial journey, Villeroy realized he wanted to help other people, not simply make himself rich. With that in mind, he established “Go Beyond Rich” as a new venture. This was a winning strategy, not only for himself but also for his investors.

Villeroy doodled on paper and came up with his company’s name, Beyorch, from that slogan. His business plan is to help less affluent people join the wealthy in investment opportunities. In addition, Beyorch invests not only in businesses that provide a good return but also in doing good for their employees and the Earth. Villeroy finds that this provides what was missing from his life.

“I recognized that I was never satisfied because I had worked to just build wealth for myself. Only me and my family. That’s it. And I realized that a much bigger calling was actually upon my life.”

With his shift in focus from accumulating wealth to positively impacting others, Dré Villeroy has found the right path for himself. His business plan for Beyorch aims to serve middle-class investors, not just the wealthy and offers alternative investment opportunities with higher interest yeilds. Beyorch’s investments emphasize what Villeroy calls ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria. As an added but necessary bonus, this guarantees that the investments are in companies that care about more than just the bottom line.

“We want to enter investments where they actually have a bigger cause. We’re not just looking to make money,” Villeroy explains. “We’re finding that alignment, a company with these beautiful workforce practices ensuring that workers won’t get hurt on the job, that they’re doing something for the planet. Even if you look at it without emotion in a logical explanation, companies with more of these caring practices seem to outperform. If you’re caring for your worker, if you’re doing something for humanity as a whole, people show up because they feel they’re part of that vision.”

The less-affluent people Beyorch targets as investors have traditionally put their money into banks and bank products. Villeroy observes that the primary purpose of banking is convenience. People park their salaries in bank accounts and draw out money regularly for expenses. The bank makes money investing the customer’s money that’s sitting around. It also makes money with service and penalty fees and by offering products like loans and advisory services.

“We have a different purpose. We’re not writing loans, so we can double down on our interest yields because we don’t have as many other financial products to earn income like banks do,” Villeroy points out. “So the opportunity widens for us to give higher yields. As CEO, I don’t mind breaking even. For the brand, and for me, it’s not about being profitable as quickly as possible. Investors can put pressure on you. But, hell, Amazon was unprofitable for 13 years or something.”

Through Beyorch, Dré Villeroy lowers the barriers to entry for investing, providing higher returns with lower risks and forging a path toward financial inclusivity for people previously excluded from investment opportunities. The potential societal impacts of making sophisticated investment strategies available to a broader audience are nearly boundless because when everyone joins the party and invests in ethical business growth, everyone benefits.

Wanda Rich

Wanda Rich has been the Editor-in-Chief of Global Banking & Finance Review since 2011, playing a pivotal role in shaping the publication’s content and direction. Under her leadership, the magazine has expanded its global reach and established itself as a trusted source of information and analysis across various financial sectors. She is known for conducting exclusive interviews with industry leaders and oversees the Global Banking & Finance Awards, which recognize innovation and leadership in finance. In addition to Global Banking & Finance Review, Wanda also serves as editor for numerous other platforms, including Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.