The Women’s Roundtable hosted another lively wine and cheese gathering on the evening of November 13 in the Oakland offices of Bell Investment Advisors. Marivic Hammond, Senior Investment Advisor at Bell, was joined by guest speakers, Melanie Hamburger, CEO of Catalytic Women, and Agnieszka K. Adams and M. Brooke Wilson, both attorneys from the Oakland law firm of Roisman Henel, along with attendees ranging in age from their mid-twenties to mid-eighties. The discussion topic, “Giving with a Plan”, focused on wealth transfer. The conversation covered a variety of subjects such as philanthropy, the tax impacts of gifting, and how to engage family members in discussions of wealth transfer. The structure of the evening allowed attendees to bring up their personal concerns and questions.
In the spirit of the holiday season, our panelists also provided a list of organizations and resources for gift giving:
- Help those affected by the Philippines’ typhoon—consider making gifts in others’ names instead of traditional gift buying and giving. The Center for High-Impact Philanthropy at University of Pennsylvania suggests cash donations only (the logistics of in-kind donations are extraordinarily difficult) to organizations skilled at disaster response (Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders).
- Bidding for Good lists hundreds of online charity auctions, so it’s like an eBay for good.
- Better World Books has eight million titles, diverts books from landfills, and donates proceeds to charity—an Amazon for good.
- Gift cards:
- Network for Good or
- TisBest, especially good for kids
- Gifts that promote economic empowerment:
- Prosperity Candle, Haitian women candlemakers or
- Global Goods Partners, Fair Trade artisans
- Gifts to help others:
- Heifer’s gift catalog (allows you to buy an animal to lift a farmer out of poverty, e.g. $30 for a beekeeper kit–hive + bees + training)
- Seva restores sight, $50 can pay for cataract surgery
- In Defense of Animals is one of many where you can “adopt” an animal
Wealth transfer was the topic of this gathering, but we come together to talk on a range of subjects. You are invited to join in future gatherings of The Women’s Roundtable and also to suggest topics you would like to see addressed. As we plan out our program for 2014, we welcome your input.
- What financial questions do you have that may be specific to your interests as a woman?
- What information can be hard to find?
- When is most convenient for you to meet?—with options for weekdays/weekend and morning/lunch/evening
- How else can we provide value to you as a female client (or non-client interested in attending the gatherings)?
The Women’s Roundtable is scheduled to meet next on March 26, 2014. Details will follow shortly. We hope to see you there.