Systemic Wealth

Welcome. This is an introduction to Whole Wealth Systems Ltd, a new Systemic Wealth consultancy, technology partner and investment agency that began operating from January 2025. Our flagship collaborative initiative is Earth Family Office (the website will be at EarthFamilyOffice.com). More to come later on EFO. In the meantime, we’d like to share our evolving take on the notion of “Systemic Wealth” because it represents a core component of EFO’s strategy for planetary flourishing.

What do we mean by “Systemic Wealth”?

When this term first entered our consciousness, we were curious to see if it had been used elsewhere and we encountered it in the writings of Carol Sanford. Part 1 of a 15-part series of posts she began in October 2018 was called “Regenerative Economics: Generating Systemic Wealth”. Carol sadly passed away in 2024 but she left behind a body of work that keeps on giving. The opening paragraph is shown below.

In a capitalistic system, corporations are chartered by society to generate wealth. The corporation is an important means for making natural resources, including human energy, more valuable. Corporations are one expression of the innate human desire and capacity to organize to manifest a better future. Capitalism introduces the element of preserving some of the surplus and reinvesting it to drive the future creation process. It is in this context that the responsible corporation asks itself, “What future are we envisioning and how well does it harmonize with how living systems work?”

The first sentence from the Summary at the end of the final part in this series was “True wealth generation is a systemic effect, and it requires engagement and development of a whole system.”

Two of the books from Carol published after that 15-part article were “The Regenerative Business” and “The Regenerative Life”. Well worth checking out if not already familiar with her work.

We think of systemic wealth in the context of “enterprise earth”, and in the spirit of regenerative collaboration we used a request shown below, to nourish our ongoing curiosity, thinking, linking, and practice around this theme, and our desire to contribute to unlocking our highest collective potentials, synergising human, artificial and natural intelligences, for a regenerative fully flourishing humanity and planet. Inspired by the precious miracle of life, these writings continue to evolve in ways that are both humbly and heroically intended to best serve the ongoing enabling, supporting and advancing of collective flourishing. Hence, we continue to refine this work for nurturing systemic success, as defined and actioned by those living, learning, contributing and growing in and with our societal and planetary systems.

Please provide an expansive, elevating and inspiring definition and description of “systemic wealth”, that builds on the etymology of the word wealth and encompasses multiple forms of wealth including natural wealth, human wealth, intellectual wealth, social, cultural, financial, manufactured, health, and spiritual. Thank you.

Systemic wealth is the holistic, interconnected, and dynamic abundance that emerges when diverse forms of wealth—including natural, human, intellectual, social, cultural, financial, manufactured, health, and spiritual—are recognised, nurtured, integrated, aligned, and harmonized within a thriving ecosystem of life and human endeavour toward the fullest flourishing of individuals, families, communities, organisations, cities, countries, bioregions, continents, and the planet. Rooted in the Old English word *weal*, meaning “well-being” or “welfare,” and the Proto-Indo-European root *wel-*, meaning “to wish” or “to will,” systemic wealth transcends the narrow confines of material accumulation. It embodies a profound vision of prosperity that honours the interdependence, holistic well-being, and flourishing of all life and the conscious stewardship of resources, relationships, and (re)generative potentials to create a legacy of enduring evolutionary success for current and future generations.

At its core, systemic wealth evolves beyond limiting “possession” of resources to the cultivation and stewardship of the systemic conditions that enable life to flourish in its fullest expressions. It is a living tapestry woven from the following foundational dimensions:

1. **Natural Wealth**: The core foundational layer of systemic wealth, natural wealth encompasses the Earth’s ecosystems, biodiversity, and resources. It is the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil that nourishes us, and the intricate web of life that sustains our existence and the species we share this precious planet with. Systemic wealth recognizes that humanity is not separate from nature but an integral part of it, and it calls for regenerative practices that restore and enhance the planet’s vitality and resilience, our ultimate source of abundance whose health is inseparable from our own.

2. **Human Wealth**: The inherent dignity, creativity, and potential of every individual. This includes knowledge, skills, experience and other personal characteristics embodied in people that support and enhance their capacity to contribute meaningfully to society. Systemic wealth invests in people as the stewards and co-creators of a thriving world.  

3. **Intellectual Wealth**: The wealth of ideas, knowledge, innovation and wisdom that drive progress and solve complex challenges. Intellectual wealth is cultivated through education, curiosity, and the free exchange of ideas. It encompasses scientific discovery, artistic expression, technological advancement, and the preservation of traditional wisdom, empowering, elevating and enriching the collective human experience, in and with the more-than-human world.

4. **Social Wealth**: The relational bonds of trust, collaboration, and mutual support that form the fabric of thriving communities, in all their varied contexts. Social wealth is built through meaningful relationships, inclusive institutions, and a commitment to equity and justice. It is the glue that holds societies together, enabling collective action and resilience in the light of shared challenges and opportunities, where every voice is valued, and every person has the opportunity to flourish in life’s shared context.

5. **Cultural Wealth**: The traditions, languages, stories, art, shared values and heritage that define our identities and connect us to our past, present, and future. Cultural wealth is the enriching tapestry of human expression, celebrating diversity while fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose. It reminds us of our interconnectedness and the inspiring richness of our shared humanity.

6. **Financial Wealth**: The monetary resources and associated assets and systems that facilitate trade, investment, and economic activity. Systemic wealth reimagines finance as a tool for regeneration rather than exploitation, directed toward creating systemic value for all, funding innovation, supporting sustainable development, and accelerating progress toward planetary flourishing.

7. **Manufactured Wealth**: The infrastructure, tools, and technologies that (further) enhance human capabilities and improve quality of life. From bridges and buildings to renewable energy systems and digital networks, manufactured wealth is the physical manifestation of human ingenuity and collaboration. Systemic wealth fosters conditions under which these creations are regenerative, accessible, and aligned with the well-being and thrive-ability of people and planet.

8. **Health Wealth**: The vitality, well-being and resilience of individuals and communities. Health wealth is not merely the absence of disease but the presence of physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Alongside natural wealth, it is the foundation upon which all other forms of wealth are built, enabling people to live fulfilling and productive lives. Systemic wealth prioritizes the conditions under which wellness is the “default” outcome and dynamic system state.

9. **Spiritual Wealth**: The inner richness that arises from a sense of purpose, connection, and transcendence that give deeper meaning to life. Spiritual wealth is cultivated through mindfulness, compassion, and a deep appreciation for the larger mystery, interconnectedness and beauty of existence. It nourishes the soul and inspires individuals to contribute to the greater good, fostering compassion, gratitude, and reverence for life.

The Essence of Systemic Wealth

Systemic wealth is not a static-state zero-sum game but a (re)generative force that multiplies as it is shared. It is a dynamic continually evolving process of co-creation and regeneration. It is rooted in the understanding that true prosperity arises from the interplay of these diverse forms of wealth, each reinforcing and amplifying the others. It recognises the relationships between our stories, structures, patterns, consequences and feedback loops of our complex adaptive societal systems, nested within Earth’s systems.

Systemic wealth calls for a shift from extraction to regeneration, from competition to collaboration and reciprocity, and from scarcity mindsets and short-term gains to abundance thinking and long-term flourishing. It calls for systems—economic, political, social, and ecological—that are designed to recognise, value, nurture, grow and sustain the well-being of all, in service of continually revealing, unlocking and circulating (re)generative individual and collective potentials.

In this vision, (holistic, expansive) wealth is not hoarded but shared and freely flowing, not exploited but nurtured and stewarded. It is a celebration of life in all its forms, a recognition that true prosperity arises when we align our actions with values and principles such as (active) harmony, holism, balance, justice, creativity, curiosity, contribution, love, and full potential. Systemic wealth invites us to dream boldly, act courageously, and build a world where every being can flourish, now and for generations to come—a world where wealth is not a measure of what we have, but of who we are and what we contribute, create and nurture together.

Inspiring collaborative work is being done right now across the world to imagine and ideate, design and innovate, invest in and build better futures that are possible. We exist to help “connect more dots” with systemic wealth resources to accelerate global progress, peaceful prosperity and transformation.

This is why we are developing Earth Family Office and refer to it as a “Systemic Wealth Accelerator”.

We can be reached at Contact@WholeWealth.com