Christopher Street Financial

Christopher Street isn't a haven for social investing, though it does include a few such mutual funds among its offerings. "We're here to make money for the company's clients," says Johns. Though the average client has an account balance of about $100,000, Hatch emphasizes that there's no minimum net worth needed to invest with Christopher Street,... and that the firm has clients who are just beginning to save. In addition to Christopher Street's expertise in dealing with the legalities of same-sex couples, Hatch says the firm's ownership is important to its clients. As a gay person, "you want to do business with people who understand you and aren't going to judge you," says Hatch. A quarter of the firm's clients, attracted by the personal service, are straight. "There's definitely a desire to support a gay-owned business," says Hatch. Johns agrees. And he wants people to be aware they're supporting a gay-owned business - when new vendors call, he makes no bones about the firm's mission. "I want them to know," he says. So far, he says, none have hung up.Read More