Page 18 - Investment Advisor - November 2023

education to launch new careers or advance existing ones in well-being, protection from fraud and other abuses, and know-
financial services. In the past year, the center expanded its mission how to prepare for the future.
by leveraging a critical grant from the center’s longtime partner
and financial backer, The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. Bank of America
It awarded 430 scholarships, expanded its career services to BofA Private Bank’s Global
include one-on-one career coaching and networking services, Ambassadors Program ini-
and released a career pathways guide for more veterans and their tiative is a collaboration with Vital Voices. Private Bank president
families to explore careers in financial services. Katy Knox and several senior female colleagues serve as mentors
to female entrepreneurs globally who endeavor to improve the
Fintech/tAMP Platforms conditions of the populations they serve. Through its work with
GAP, the Private Bank has collaborated with and mentored The
Myvest Imbeleko Foundation, an organization in rural South Africa that
One of the organizations most has been heavily affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Private
supported by MyVest volunteers and funding is ShelterTech, Bank’s partnership with Imbeleko includes the firm’s interns,
which was formed in 2017 to provide internet access to the nearly analysts and associates. The Early Talent Team mentors the high
28,000 people experiencing homelessness in the Bay Area by mak- school and college students Imbeleko serves.
ing it easier to connect with resources that can help them address
their challenges. The firm’s tech team spent countless volunteer First Command Financial services
development hours building out the core technology platform that First Command employees and
powers ShelterTech. MyVest continues to support ShelterTech advisors work alongside community
through volunteer hours and funding. The company’s senior direc- organizations on programs that matter to their local military com-
tor of platform engineering, Joe Freund, co-founded ShelterTech, munities, giving freely of their time, talent and treasures. In the
sits on its board and recruits and motivates volunteers. last year, employees volunteered 25,000 hours and raised $218,000
for military service relief organizations and related causes as part
orion Advisor solutions of the Force For Good program. Advisors produced nearly 27,000
Orion is dedicated to building community, complimentary financial plans for service members and their
both in the local sense and the broader, nationwide community of families in 2022. First Command also donated 8% of its profits to
advisors. The firm offers free financial planning software, Orion military charities and sponsorship, with no tax benefit to the firm.
Planning, to any advisor who serves a pro bono client. In 2023,
it announced a $300,000 commitment to the Foundation for Guardian Life Insurance
Financial Planning, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access In 2022, Guardian sponsored
to pro bono financial planning. And it is the exclusive sponsor 1,000 colleagues for a justice,
of the foundation’s first-of-its-kind ProBonoPlannerMatch.org equity, diversity and inclusion certification to learn about and
platform. Orion also supports the Invest in Others nonprofit orga- embody inclusive leadership, and empowered diverse suppliers
nization, of which chief executive Eric Clarke is a board member. through a 52% increase in spending. It also earned 100% on the
Orion encourages community service among its team members Corporate Equality Index, and was recognized by the Human
and leaders. Rights Campaign as one of the “Best Places to Work” for LGBTQ+
equality. The company launched Guardian for Good employee
retirement and other Products/services Companies engagement programs, onboarded a tech-enabled philanthropic
platform and nearly doubled colleague engagement in the com-
Allianz Life Insurance Company munity. In April 2023, Guardian collaborated with EVERFI to
of north America launch Minding Your Money: Skills for Life, a financial wellness
Allianz Life’s community engage- curriculum for financially distressed adult Gen Zers.
ment strategy focuses on economic inclusion. This means sup-
porting organizations that provide essential needs to members of rIA/IAr Firms
the community so they can achieve financial stability, including
food, shelter and clothing. It also means backing organizations Carson Group
that help members of the community achieve financial sustain- Carson Group is committed to tack-
ability by succeeding in the workforce, including through college ling the issue of underrepresentation
preparedness, skills training, entrepreneurial support and access of women in wealth management through its Women in Wealth
to capital and investment. And it means supporting organiza- Management Study and through the inaugural Excell REPRESENT
tions that help ensure all community members have financial event. The study demonstrated that representation matters and is

16 Investment AdvIsor November 2023 | ThinkAdvisor.com