Philanthropy needs advisors

Sometimes advisors can get lost in all the dollar and cents, and forget that they have a unique set of skills that can, and often does improve the lives of others. After 20 successful years in the financial services industry, Nicola Elkins knew she was destined for something more. Having worked for some of the […]

By John Powell | October 28, 2009 | Last updated on October 28, 2009
3 min read

“My dad suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, so I have had many years of struggling in terms of being able to deal with the various stages of the illness,” Elkins says about her decision to establish the Benefaction foundation. “I had experience with social organizations, both for profit and many not-for-profit, learning what their trials and tribulations were in dealing with their causes. I have felt for a number of years that there must be something I can do to contribute.”

In establishing Benefaction a few years ago, Elkins was able to marry her desire to assist various charitable organizations with the expertise she developed in the financial service industry. From the outset, Benefaction’s goal has been to assist advisors in raising the awareness of charitable giving in tax smart ways.

“Being able to spread that word is what gives me a lot of satisfaction. There’s an educational component that I really enjoy,” she says of her work.

Nicola Elkins

Elkin will be spreading the word and more at November’s Distinguished Advisor Conference , in Tucson, Arizona. As a guest speaker, she will be sharing her knowledge with attendees about current trends, the role advisors can play in philanthropy and the future of charitable giving. Elkin will also be discussing a number of case studies to help advisors understand the different methods of incorporating philanthropy into their clients’ financial strategy.

“By virtue of the very many benefits charitable giving can bring from a tax perspective to clients, it behooves advisors to know a little bit about what those opportunities are. If I can help to remind them and get them to talk to their clients about their charitable intentions, then I think we will have achieved something,” she says.

Despite the current economic climate, Elkins says it is encouraging to see affluent Canadians becoming more and more philanthropic and that they are giving more each year.

“We at Benefaction want to continue to talk to Canadians and their financial advisors to help them develop powerful, cost-effective, tax efficient strategies for giving. It is all about helping them to be efficient in their giving, maintaining elements of control over where they direct their gifts and minimizing their tax burden.”

Elkins is not only looking forward to speaking at the conference but attending it as well.

“I think this will be my fourth conference and as always it will be an excellent educational experience. It is a great opportunity to meet advisors from across the country and to network,” she says.

The Distinguished Advisor Conference runs from November 8th to 11th in Tucson, Arizona, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. For more information, click here.

The main theme of this year’s conference is “Leadership and Opportunity in Turbulent Times”.

John Powell

Sometimes advisors can get lost in all the dollar and cents, and forget that they have a unique set of skills that can, and often does improve the lives of others.

After 20 successful years in the financial services industry, Nicola Elkins knew she was destined for something more. Having worked for some of the biggest and brightest firms including Fidelity Investments, First Asset Advisory Services, Russell Investments and Nesbitt Burns, Elkins left behind the bustling world of high finance to become the CEO and founder of Benefaction, a not-for-profit agency dedicated to encouraging philanthropy. The inspiration for the career change: her father.

“My dad suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, so I have had many years of struggling in terms of being able to deal with the various stages of the illness,” Elkins says about her decision to establish the Benefaction foundation. “I had experience with social organizations, both for profit and many not-for-profit, learning what their trials and tribulations were in dealing with their causes. I have felt for a number of years that there must be something I can do to contribute.”

In establishing Benefaction a few years ago, Elkins was able to marry her desire to assist various charitable organizations with the expertise she developed in the financial service industry. From the outset, Benefaction’s goal has been to assist advisors in raising the awareness of charitable giving in tax smart ways.

“Being able to spread that word is what gives me a lot of satisfaction. There’s an educational component that I really enjoy,” she says of her work.

Nicola Elkins

Elkin will be spreading the word and more at November’s Distinguished Advisor Conference , in Tucson, Arizona. As a guest speaker, she will be sharing her knowledge with attendees about current trends, the role advisors can play in philanthropy and the future of charitable giving. Elkin will also be discussing a number of case studies to help advisors understand the different methods of incorporating philanthropy into their clients’ financial strategy.

“By virtue of the very many benefits charitable giving can bring from a tax perspective to clients, it behooves advisors to know a little bit about what those opportunities are. If I can help to remind them and get them to talk to their clients about their charitable intentions, then I think we will have achieved something,” she says.

Despite the current economic climate, Elkins says it is encouraging to see affluent Canadians becoming more and more philanthropic and that they are giving more each year.

“We at Benefaction want to continue to talk to Canadians and their financial advisors to help them develop powerful, cost-effective, tax efficient strategies for giving. It is all about helping them to be efficient in their giving, maintaining elements of control over where they direct their gifts and minimizing their tax burden.”

Elkins is not only looking forward to speaking at the conference but attending it as well.

“I think this will be my fourth conference and as always it will be an excellent educational experience. It is a great opportunity to meet advisors from across the country and to network,” she says.

The Distinguished Advisor Conference runs from November 8th to 11th in Tucson, Arizona, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. For more information, click here.

The main theme of this year’s conference is “Leadership and Opportunity in Turbulent Times”.

Sometimes advisors can get lost in all the dollar and cents, and forget that they have a unique set of skills that can, and often does improve the lives of others.

After 20 successful years in the financial services industry, Nicola Elkins knew she was destined for something more. Having worked for some of the biggest and brightest firms including Fidelity Investments, First Asset Advisory Services, Russell Investments and Nesbitt Burns, Elkins left behind the bustling world of high finance to become the CEO and founder of Benefaction, a not-for-profit agency dedicated to encouraging philanthropy. The inspiration for the career change: her father.

“My dad suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, so I have had many years of struggling in terms of being able to deal with the various stages of the illness,” Elkins says about her decision to establish the Benefaction foundation. “I had experience with social organizations, both for profit and many not-for-profit, learning what their trials and tribulations were in dealing with their causes. I have felt for a number of years that there must be something I can do to contribute.”

In establishing Benefaction a few years ago, Elkins was able to marry her desire to assist various charitable organizations with the expertise she developed in the financial service industry. From the outset, Benefaction’s goal has been to assist advisors in raising the awareness of charitable giving in tax smart ways.

“Being able to spread that word is what gives me a lot of satisfaction. There’s an educational component that I really enjoy,” she says of her work.

Nicola Elkins

Elkin will be spreading the word and more at November’s Distinguished Advisor Conference , in Tucson, Arizona. As a guest speaker, she will be sharing her knowledge with attendees about current trends, the role advisors can play in philanthropy and the future of charitable giving. Elkin will also be discussing a number of case studies to help advisors understand the different methods of incorporating philanthropy into their clients’ financial strategy.

“By virtue of the very many benefits charitable giving can bring from a tax perspective to clients, it behooves advisors to know a little bit about what those opportunities are. If I can help to remind them and get them to talk to their clients about their charitable intentions, then I think we will have achieved something,” she says.

Despite the current economic climate, Elkins says it is encouraging to see affluent Canadians becoming more and more philanthropic and that they are giving more each year.

“We at Benefaction want to continue to talk to Canadians and their financial advisors to help them develop powerful, cost-effective, tax efficient strategies for giving. It is all about helping them to be efficient in their giving, maintaining elements of control over where they direct their gifts and minimizing their tax burden.”

Elkins is not only looking forward to speaking at the conference but attending it as well.

“I think this will be my fourth conference and as always it will be an excellent educational experience. It is a great opportunity to meet advisors from across the country and to network,” she says.

The Distinguished Advisor Conference runs from November 8th to 11th in Tucson, Arizona, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. For more information, click here.

The main theme of this year’s conference is “Leadership and Opportunity in Turbulent Times”.