PLANADVISER - May/June 2021 - 40

advisers giving back
Giving Is Contagious
R
egularly on PLANADVISER.com, we present the
profile of an adviser or advisory practice involved in
philanthropic efforts. Besides to highlight the works
plan advisers do and to attract a new generation, we hope
these stories will inspire those who are still unsure what
role corporate responsibility or philanthropy should play
in their practice. Below are excerpts from recent features-
find the full versions at PLANADVISER.com/AGB.
ARE YOU AN ADVISER WHO GIVES BACK to the local,
regional or global community? If so, we want to hear about
it for our Advisers Giving Back program. If you have or know of
such a story, please email editors@issmediasolutions.com.
Practice Learns Giving From Its Clients
401k Plan Professionals, a women-owned advisory firm
in Edina, Minnesota, had supported causes before, but
when it began handling the plans of nonprofits such as
Greater Twin Cities United Way and Twin Cities Habitat
for Humanities-and learned about what they did- " it
changed our focus, " says Investment Adviser Representative
Jenna Witherbee. Now, the team prepares food
packages and school supply care kits for kids, has fed
the needy, and, post-COVID-19, plans to go back into
high schools to volunteer teach financial literacy. " Our
role as a trusted advisory firm also helps us bring [these
charities] greater visibility, " she says.
Repurposing Adviser Skills for Charity
Sean Patton, founder of Westminster Consulting, now
part of OneDigital, in Rochester, New York, learned the
importance of giving back from his social worker father
and community service projects in Catholic school. So,
since he started working, he has volunteered, serving
on the boards, and then as president, of the Rochester
Rotary and Camp Haccamo, for young people with
disabilities. Adviser skills are transferable, he found-e.g.,
in " prudently managing the resources of the camp " and
in running the city's Breast Cancer Coalition golf tournament,
where, he says, " you negotiate prices for vendors
and venues, and negotiate with sponsors " to maximize
the money raised. Volunteering " isn't about business, " he
says. " It's about community building. "
Firm's Giving Back Starts With a Race
ProCourse Fiduciary Advisors in Carmel, Indiana, got
excited about volunteering when it discovered the annual
401(k) Race for Financial Fitness and arranged to host one
locally. In the three years since, it has raised $100,000 for
the charity's recipient, Junior Achievement, which teaches
kids about business, careers, finances and problem-solving.
Besides promoting the " aligning of health and wealth
goals " -a value of ProCourse, says its director of marketing,
Ashley Naab, such events generate camaraderie among
the team and foster relationships with clients and the larger
community. ProCourse also formalized its efforts by creating
a volunteer offshoot, " ProCourse Cares " ; the effort encourages
a culture of giving through supporting staff members'
causes, Naab says. -John Manganaro
40 | planadviser.com May-June 2021 Art by (from left) James Albon; Siobhán Gallagher; A. Richard Allen

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PLANADVISER - May/June 2021

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