Tag: Philanthropy
Celebrity Estates: George Foreman and Legacy Planning

Celebrity Estates: George Foreman and Legacy Planning

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In this episode of Celebrity Estates, host David Lenok welcomes Ian Freeman, founder of The Freeman Group and a Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Advisor, for a conversation inspired by the estate of legendary boxer and entrepreneur George Foreman. 

From naming all five of his sons “George Edward Foreman” to building a $300 million fortune, David and Ian explore how identity, family dynamics and unspoken expectations shape legacy. Ian offers practical insight into the emotional side of wealth transfer and how advisors can foster deeper, more meaningful planning conversations.

Ian discusses:

  • George Foreman’s estate strategy and the symbolic power of naming all his sons after himself
  • The emotional and psychological layers of wealth transfer, especially in multi-generational families
  • The importance of flexibility and open dialogue in estate and legacy planning
  • Common communication gaps and how silence can fracture family trust
  • How philanthropic goals can engage future generations and reflect authentic values

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Ian Freeman:

About Our Guest:

Ian Freeman is a nationally and internationally recognized financial representative with a career rooted in purpose, resilience, and service. A graduate of Wesleyan University, where he studied government, history, economics, and philosophy, Ian began his professional journey in banking and investment banking before launching his insurance career in 1987, with just a $5,000 loan, heavy debt, and a leap of faith. Since then, he has helped enrich the lives of more than 4,500 individuals, families, and businesses by writing over $2 billion in death benefits.

Ian ranks among the top 40 in career production at Northwestern Mutual and is one of only two representatives in the company’s history to qualify for both the Northwestern Mutual Forum and Lives Leader Summit every single year since their inception. A Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table and past president of the Northwestern Mutual Financial Representatives Association, Ian has served on numerous committees and continues to mentor more than 1,000 financial professionals, with a longstanding commitment to multicultural engagement.

Holding CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, and AEP® designations, Ian is known for blending deep industry knowledge with authentic client relationships. His practice was honored in the 2005 Northwestern Mutual Annual Report, a recognition he attributes not just to accomplishments, but to character. A passionate speaker and educator, Ian travels the country sharing insights on insurance fundamentals and the true impact of financial guidance.

Outside of work, Ian enjoys golfing, reading, playing guitar, staying active, and spending time with his beloved Golden Retrievers. For Ian, being a traditional representative isn’t about doing things the old way; it’s about doing them the right way, with heart.
Celebrity Estates: Lessons from Leonard Lauder’s Art Legacy with Oliver Pursche

Celebrity Estates: Lessons from Leonard Lauder’s Art Legacy with Oliver Pursche

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In this episode of Celebrity Estates, host David Lenok welcomes Oliver Pursche, senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors, for a deep dive into the estate complexities surrounding Leonard Lauder’s famed art collection. From cubist masterpieces to staggering valuations, they explore how collectibles impact balance sheets, spark family conflict and raise nuanced estate planning questions.

Here’s what to expect from this episode:

  • The emotional psychology behind collecting and why it matters to advisors
  • How valuation types (fair market vs. insurance vs. resale) shape tax and succession planning
  • What advisors must know about collaborating with clients’ outside experts
  • Strategies to handle heirs with unequal interest in inherited collections
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Oliver Pursche:

About Our Guest:

Oliver serves as an advisor based in the firm’s Westport, Conn. and New York offices and is an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS®). He joined the team with over 25 years in financial services, having worked with independent RIAs, regional Broker Dealers, banks and bank trust departments, and family and multi-family offices.

Before coming to Wealthspire, he worked at Bruderman Asset Management, where he served most recently as the interim Chief Market Strategist and Vice Chairman of the Board, and previously as Chief Executive Officer. While concluding his tenure at Bruderman, he simultaneously served as Chief Investment Officer and Chief Market Strategist at EsteV LLC. He has also held leadership positions at Gary Goldberg Financial Services, Trust Company of America, and Neuberger Berman.

Oliver is an experienced global macro market strategist with significant media and corporate communications experience, as well as a published author. Active in the industry and his community, he served on the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs Advisory Board, Westport Arts Center Board, and Harvard Business Review Advisory Board, among others.

Originally from Germany, Oliver has resided in Fairfield, CT since 1984 and likes to stay active by playing tennis, scuba diving, and participating in competitive trap and skeet shooting in his free time.
Celebrity Estates: First-Generation Wealth with George Stefanou

Celebrity Estates: First-Generation Wealth with George Stefanou

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Leon Spinks shocked the world in 1978 when, in just his eighth professional fight, he defeated Muhammad Ali to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, a victory still regarded as one of boxing’s greatest upsets. Yet, despite his early success and multimillion-dollar earnings, financial missteps and the long-term effects of brain injuries would take a heavy toll.

At his lowest point, Spinks worked as a janitor and fast-food worker in Nebraska. But with the unwavering support of his wife Brenda, he eventually found peace and stability in Las Vegas, where he remained a cherished figure in the boxing community until his death from prostate cancer at age 67.

Join WealthManagement.com Senior Editor David Lenok as he sits down with advisor and author George Stefanou for an insightful conversation on the unique estate planning challenges faced by first-generation millionaires.

Together, they explore the emotional complexities and generational tensions that arise when “old country” values meet modern American dreams—and how advisors can help families navigate the delicate balance between legacy, lifestyle, and long-term stewardship.

George shares insights into:

  • Challenges faced by first-generation millionaires
  • The emotional side of estate planning and the importance of family conversations
  • How heirs can avoid a ‘windfall mentality’ 
  • Strategies for fostering family cohesion and legacy
  • The expanded role of advisors, including the need for increased financial literacy
  • And more

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With George Stefanou:

About Our Guest:

George is a first-generation Greek-American and a 2023 & 2024 Forbes Best-in-State Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisor, serving as the financial guru behind “Two-Comma Wealth.” As a University of Central Florida alumnus and avid football fan, George brings a unique perspective to the world of personal finance.

Alongside his roles as a devoted husband to Kristin and father to Ella and Aubrey, George is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional who also holds the following advanced credentials: Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®), Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®), Accredited Asset Management Specialist℠ (AAMS®), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠ (CRPS®) and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ (CRPC®). Drawing on over 15 years of experience and thousands of diverse client interactions, George has developed a talent for humanizing finance, helping clients navigate the complexities of wealth management while empowering both investors and advisors.
Ep 58 – MacKenzie Scott: The Future of Giving?

Ep 58 – MacKenzie Scott: The Future of Giving?

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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

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

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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.
Dead Celebrity Ep 17 – Elizabeth Taylor: Going Deep With Your Philanthropy — With Bruce DeBoskey

Dead Celebrity Ep 17 – Elizabeth Taylor: Going Deep With Your Philanthropy — With Bruce DeBoskey

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Sponsored By: FS Investments

What kind of difference do your clients want to make in the world — and for themselves — with their philanthropy?

In this episode, WealthManagement.com’s senior editor, David Lenok, is joined by Bruce DeBoskey, president and founder of The DeBoskey Group. Bruce has dedicated his life to helping others maximize the impact of their philanthropic giving. Together, David and Bruce discuss the legacy of Elizabeth Taylor, one of classical Hollywood cinema’s most beloved stars, to serve as inspiration for teaching advisors how to help clients deepen their impact. 

In this episode, you will learn:

  • What role philanthropy can play in your clients’ financial plans
  • How to help your clients decide what kind of difference they want their philanthropy to make in the world and for themselves
  • Why clients will make a greater impact with their giving if they narrow their focus 
  • How multigenerational families, in particular, can benefit from having a mission statement to guide their philanthropic efforts
  • Why Bruce encourages his clients to “give while they live”
  • And more!

Tune in now and learn how to help your clients deepen their impact. 

Resources:

WealthManagement.com | The DeBoskey Group