5 Benefits for SNJ Professional Advisors Who Connect with the JCF

Now that Tax Day 2025 has passed, the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern New Jersey congratulates professional advisors (a general term referring to accountants, estate attorneys, and financial planners) near and far for completing another busy season: mazel tov! Hopefully there is now some time for advisors to catch their breath.

The JCF regularly will collaborate with professional advisors from the South Jersey area, and we welcome the chance to meet new advisors.

If you are a local professional advisor, please contact JCF Assistant Director Mike Staff at 856-673-2528 or mstaff@jfedsnj.org to connect.

Similarly, if you give charitably and work with a local advisor, please consider making the referral so they can learn more about the JCF and potentially get involved.

Here are five benefits for SNJ professional advisors who connect with the JCF:

1. Education on Charitable Giving:

   Many advisors (locally and nationally) do not consistently ask their clients about philanthropic interests. Reasons for this vary, but some advisors may not feel comfortable broaching this subject in case it's a sensitive issue, or they may not have the knowledge on what questions to ask.

   
   

   The JCF can help advisors feel more comfortable in holding discussions on philanthropy by providing education on how and why to hold these conversations and what to ask. Ultimately, this philanthropic discussion may even grow the bond between the advisor and client, since the client may need assistance without even realizing it.

   
   

   Plus, advisors do a true mitzvah (good deed) by providing guidance to their clients to get the most out of their giving and, in turn, helping the community, while also potentially earning tax benefits for charitable giving.

   
   

2. Network Building:

   In the professional advisory realm, it is common for advisors to grow their business through referrals from their clients, but, just as importantly, one advisor may be able to recommend another advisor in a complementary field when their clients are seeking additional expert advice. For example, if an accountant's client is looking to meet with an estate attorney to update their estate plans, the accountant would be in an ideal position to refer several names of trusted attorneys to their client.

   
   

   The JCF can serve as a bridge for advisors to grow their respective networks. In addition, the JCF at times may share the names of advisors at a donor's request, so it helps when we know and trust an advisor in order to be able to include their name in the referral list.

   
   

3. Giving Back to the Community:

   Many of an advisor's clients likely live in or around the community where they practice. By getting involved with the JCF, the advisor will be helping this same constituency and showing their desire to make the world a better place.

   
   

   The JCF offers numerous, hands-on committees that may be of interest to local advisors, such as our Investment Committee that works closely with our investment manager, SEI, and our Grants Committee which provides approximately $100,000 in grants each year for local programs and services. The JCF is also well-suited to connect advisors with other local charitable organizations (Jewish or secular) to support their missions.

   
   

4. Sharing Expertise:

   The JCF offers various vehicles whereby professional advisors can potentially share their expertise to help community members. For example, we often publish written pieces for the public, such as our Money Matters column in the Jewish Community Voice or here in our JCF Blog, where we can quote local advisors on topics related to their fields. In addition, presentation opportunities may be available for trusted advisors.

   
   

5. Improved Well-Being

   Last but not least, when people get involved in their community, connect with others, and provide support for important causes, they gain the benefit of boosting their own well-being, i.e. "the giver's glow" or "helper's high." The JCF provides a unique platform for advisors to get involved, and we're certain that local professional advisors will feel great about joining with us.

We thank professional advisors for the work they do in assisting our donors and community at-large in handling their accounting, estate, and financial plans, and we look forward to connecting with those advisors who have an interest in what we do.

Let's meet!