Tag Archives: Charitable Giving

Ep 58 – MacKenzie Scott: The Future of Giving?



With a 4% stake in Amazon, MacKenzie Scott, formerly MacKenzie Bezos, is the third wealthiest woman in the United States.

In this episode, David Lenok is joined by Richard Peck, vice president of New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and Jonathan Gassman, CEO of Gassman Financial Group. Richard and Jonathan discuss how she goes about charitable giving through a personal, philosophical and operational standpoint. They reveal tools and vehicles anyone can use when donating and how you can continue your charitable legacy after you are gone.

Richard and Jonathan discusses:

  • How individuals can make charitable gifts;
  • The importance of having a conversation with clients about their goals;
  • Tools and vehicles for charitable giving; and
  • How you can pass on your charitable values.

Connect With Jonathan Gassman:

Connect With Richard Peck:

Connect With David Lenok:

About Our Guests:

Jonathan Gassman

A professional who acts as a chief financial advisor to many highly respected professionals, Jonathan has taken his knowledge and experience as a certified financial planner and a certified public accountant to consistently provide the highest level of service to his clients. Jonathan’s long-term involvement with charitable planned giving is what led him to pursue the rigorous CAP® credential (Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®). The CAP® program provides financial professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to help clients reach their charitable giving objectives, while also helping them meet their estate planning and wealth management goals. Only 350 individuals have been awarded the prestigious CAP® designation since its inception in 2003.

 

Richard Peck

Rick Peck leads the Foundation’s philanthropy and donor services team, overseeing all aspects of development, donor engagement and donor services.

Before joining the Foundation, Rick served Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health and the Geisel School of Medicine as director of individual giving and gift planning, where he worked with grateful patients and families as well as medical school alumni to achieve their philanthropic goals. He also served Dartmouth College as an associate director of gift planning, working with alumni of the undergraduate college.

Rick is a Certified Financial Planner®, a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® and a Chartered Financial Consultant®. He holds an MBA from Baker College in Michigan and a BA from the University of Massachusetts.

Rick is a volunteer member of the marketing and development committee of the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council in Lebanon, NH. He also serves on the NH Race and Equity All Workgroup and the Civic Engagement subgroup in Concord, NH. And, he is a new member of the board of directors of the International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy.

 


Ep 56 – Elon Musk’s Charitable Limits With John Pantekidis



Between his six children and his illiquid assets in Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk’s claim to give half of his fortune to charity falls short. Yet only a few small steps would be required to increase his charitable giving and arrange support for his family.  

In this episode, David Lenok is joined by John Pantekidis of Twin Focus Capital. John shares his insight into the financial situation of Elon Musk, who was recently named the richest man in the world. 

John discusses Elon’s struggle to uphold his claims of philanthropic giving between his illiquid assets and support for a large family. John also discusses how others can avoid the pitfalls of keeping your wealth in illiquid assets and familial drama through premarital agreements and including the children in charity foundations. 

John discusses:

  • Why a premarital agreement should have been included when Elon Musk first married 
  • How his assets restrict his donation amount
  • What he should be doing to increase his charitable giving and passing money on to the next generation
  • The role of philanthropy in charitable giving

Connect With John Pantekidis:

Connect With David Lenok:

About Our Guest:

John is a partner at TwinFocus Capital and serves as the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and General Counsel. In this role, John maintains a close working relationship with TwinFocus clients to help them design and expedite their investment strategies. He also leads the firm’s research efforts to develop new and creative asset allocation policies, oversee due diligence for manager search and selection, as well as write thought leadership commentary on global macroeconomic topics. Additionally, he has a keen interest in alternative investment fund formation and structuring, as well as analyzing complex tax aspects of alternative investments, pioneering studies on how to make hedge fund investing more tax efficient from an income and wealth transfer tax perspective. He is especially active on behalf of offshore clients, developing strategies to overcome cross-border impediments, tax, legal, and regulatory challenges, as well as cultural sensitivities to maximize inter-generational wealth transfer and succession planning.


Ep 54 – James Brown: Philanthropy After Death With Robert Strauss



In this episode, David Lenok, senior editor at WealthManagement.com, is joined by Robert Strauss,  shareholder and director of Weinstock Manion, specializing in guiding high net worth families, business owners, and real estate developers through the complex process of estate and wealth transfer planning.

Today’s celebrity example is the estate of legendary musician and American icon James Brown, including the fifteen years it took to settle his relatively simple estate. David and Robert discuss how charitable giving can help you avoid drawn out settlements after your death.

David and Robert discuss:

  • The importance of defining the clients’ wishes for their estate after they pass
  • Charitable giving before vs. after death
  • How family and legal dynamics can change after you are gone
  • How charitable gains are taxed
  • And more

Connect With Robert Strauss:

Connect With David Lenok:

About Our Guest:

As a Partner at Weinstock Manion, I specialize in guiding high-networth families, business owners and real estate developers through the complex process of estate and wealth transfer planning. With an extensive background as a transactional attorney, I am able to effectively advise owners of businesses and real estate regarding business succession plans and pre-liquidity event wealth transfer plans. Further, I bring a creative and customized approach to all estate matters in order to reduce estate taxes, achieve liability and creditor protection and, if desired, incorporate charitable giving and life insurance planning.