Partnership in Action: 2025 Professional Advisor Breakfast 

In October of 2025, Greater Houston Community Foundation hosted a breakfast for professional advisors who play such a vital role in guiding individuals, families, business owners, and philanthropists through some of life’s most important financial and charitable decisions. Continue reading for insights on how to integrate philanthropy into complex transactions, along with key legislative updates to help you better guide your clients in today’s evolving policy landscape. 

Coordinating for Confidence 

Advisors—whether financial planners, attorneys, wealth managers, or CPAs—play a critical role in shaping how philanthropy is woven into major transactions. And when professional advisors connect with Greater Houston Community Foundation early, as a joint team, we can help your clients create clarity, confidence, and meaningful change. After polling attendees to see how many are currently working with clients who are considering selling their businesses in the next two or three years, an overwhelming majority—over 80%—said they were. 

Understanding a client’s “why” behind selling their business—whether it’s wealth generation, health considerations, life stage, or preparing the next generation for stewardship—is critical. This understanding enables professional advisors to align wealth generation with their clients’ values and purpose. That’s where strategic, coordinated planning is key. When a team of trusted advisors works together, even during times of uncertainty, clients achieve elevated precision and impact.  

From Enterprise to Impact 

To demonstrate the value of teaming up with the Community Foundation early in the planning of complex transactions with your clients, we invited Ken Bohan and Ann Deaton for a fireside chat. Ken Bohan, a Community Foundation fundholder, integrated philanthropy into the sale of the company he founded, The Liberty Group. As the Founder, CEO, and Chairman, this decision did not come lightly; it was a significant financial and emotional commitment. Joining Ken on stage as his trusted advisor was Ann Deaton, Senior Managing Director and Head of the Houston Office for Angeles Wealth Management. Ann helped structure and guide Ken throughout the sale of his business from start to finish, beginning the planning conversations years ahead of the final transaction. 

Ken’s decision to sell his business was driven by a desire to explore new opportunities, as he began reflecting on what might be next for him beyond his current venture. He reached an age when he was still healthy, had dedicated more than 40 years to his company, and was ready for a change. Ken candidly stated, “The business was like my baby; the thought of walking away from rocking my baby was overwhelming.”  

The sale of a business can create significant professional and personal uncertainty. Ann shared, “When you create a business from scratch, there is a scale of emotions when you think about stepping away. What will my identity or purpose be? Always come back to this question.” Ken later added, “Be patient with us! It is a big deal. It is probably most people’s primary asset, and it’s scary.” 

Thoughtful, value-driven planning can help ease uncertainty and bring greater clarity for clients, and it’s often during this process that charitable conversations naturally emerge. Ann shared that she and Ken began laying the groundwork for the sale of Ken’s business about three or four years in advance to ensure the company was well positioned for a successful transaction. Ken was adamant that he wanted this transaction to remain confidential, and Ann was critical in shepherding this private process. 

During this planning phase, philanthropy was integrated into the sale of Ken’s business. Additionally, IRS regulations required him to decide in advance what percentage of the sale he would give to philanthropy. Ken has been philanthropic throughout his life, supporting his friends in charitable causes they were passionate about or attending different events—he coined this “reactive philanthropy.” Ken saw the sale of his business as the perfect time to begin a new chapter full of purpose and intention. Ken expanded on his newfound quest, “My mission is how I can make a difference going forward, and really be involved…If you are going to give away wealth, you want to make sure it will be used well.” 

Ken shared that the philanthropic advisors at the Community Foundation helped him narrow his philanthropic focus. “We pulled together a plan for distribution for the short term, intermediate term, and long term. It wasn’t easy, it was hard for me, but the Community Foundation was instrumental.” 

Ann played a key role in introducing Ken to the Community Foundation. Ann shared, “It started with a conversation about all of his options, but it was the idea of meeting like-minded donors and the educational programming the Community Foundation provides that won him over.” Ken also noted that he liked being able to pop into the office at any time to talk to real people.  

Ann has been a long-time fan of the Community Foundation, serving on its Investment Committee for 14 years after joining it in 2006. Throughout her time on the Investment Committee, she gained a deep understanding of the Community Foundation’s programs and offerings and observed its substantial growth. Ann noted how she was also really impressed with the Community Foundation’s stewardship of assets. Once Ken formalized his partnership with the Community Foundation, Ann was still able to continue managing his assets, as advisors can continue to manage their clients’ investments when their clients have a fund balance with $500,000 or more. Ken found this continuity comforting.  

In Ken’s sale of his business, his professional advisor, Ann, served as a shield. She helped him identify the right brokers and sent requests for proposals while keeping Ken’s business identity anonymous.  

Now, Ken embraces his new sense of purpose, supporting the arts, healthcare, and a few other organizations while bringing his business acumen into his philanthropy. He even created a line of credit through his donor advised fund for Avenue 360, giving them a cushion. 

Ann shared that the two most powerful ways she successfully stewards her clients’ assets are to deliver on her promises and to ask questions with genuine interest. “You have to have self-awareness. What am I better at today than I was yesterday? When you know and trust yourself, other people will feel that.” Ann understood Ken’s beliefs, why he was selling the business, and his desire to support specific causes he cared about. Ann closed with, “Understand your clients’ motivations behind everything and never be judgmental on their responses, just listen.” 

Philanthropic Policy in Motion 

The program continued with Jeff Hamond, Vice President at Van Scoyoc Associates and a long-time community foundation friend and advocate, who leads the firm’s Philanthropy Practice. Jeff has decades of experience helping community foundations and nonprofits communicate their impact to policymakers. Jeff shared legislative updates and practical insights to help advisors navigate charitable giving in today’s evolving policy landscape. 

Jeff highlighted the Community Foundation Awareness Initiative (CFAI), formed in 2012 to help lawmakers understand the vital role that community foundations play in their communities, whether in big cities, small towns, or rural areas. The CFAI includes more than 160 community foundations, including Greater Houston Community Foundation, in nearly all 50 states, working to educate the public about how community foundations help to improve and transform communities. 

The conversation turned to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and its impact on nonprofits. Jeff highlighted how:  

• Only a small percentage of taxpayers itemize their deductions, and with the bill including deduction limits and giving floors, this may hurt organizations that rely on smaller gifts.  

• The estate and gift tax was not repealed, but significant exemptions were. 

• The bill made provisions for taxpayers in the higher tax backet to accelerate and bunch giving in 2026 to 2025, making a DAF a perfect tool to accomplish this strategy. 

The lack of inclusion of donor advised funds (DAF) in OBBBA, given their rising popularity, elicited conflicting emotions for Jeff. He hopes that one reason for the exclusion is that many community foundations are DAF sponsors, and that the CFAI’s work has raised greater awareness of the importance and impact of community foundations.  

Jeff is not only a community foundation lobbyist, but also a fundholder. He leverages his local community foundation to help him identify who is doing the best work to support the causes he prioritizes. Additionally, he recently helped unwind a private family foundation his dad had established for assets that would be sold upon his dad’s passing. Jeff encouraged his dad to put the assets into DAFs in the cities where his kids live, which are across the country. Now, each of Jeff’s siblings has a fund set up to support the issue areas their dad is most passionate about.  

Winning Business with Philanthropy 

Ricky LaFont, Partner and Director of Family Office Services at Endeavors Advisors, closed the program. Ricky is a member of the newly launched Professional Advisor Council (PAC) at the Community Foundation, which is a strategic partnership that connects trusted professional advisors closer to the heart of our community’s needs and opportunities for giving. PAC aims to equip advisors with tools, insights, and strategies to help their clients give with purpose and confidence.   

Ricky shared a recent collaboration with the Community Foundation, making a strong call to action to all professional advisors in Greater Houston. Ricky had a prospect interested in selling their business within the next two years, but he was unsure whether they were charitably inclined. After brainstorming with the Community Foundation about a few philanthropic strategies, Ricky was able to show his prospective client that a charitable component in the sale of this business could be a huge benefit, ultimately helping him win the business. Furthermore, by discussing philanthropy with the client, Ricky was able to get to know the client more intimately. He reiterated how professional advisors do not need to have these philanthropic discussions alone; consider the Community Foundation as your trusted, philanthropic partner! 

Let’s Collaborate 

Professional advisors have a unique opportunity to collaborate with the Community Foundation. We are not just a place to open a fund—we are a place where we truly partner with you, serving as an extension of your firm. The expectations you have for your team extend to us, ensuring every transition is seamless. And, to provide the best outcomes for your clients, bring the Community Foundation into the conversation early, especially when considering complex assets. 

Join us on a shared journey to create lasting impact. Contact Andrea Mayes today to explore how the Community Foundation can support you and your clients.  If you’d like to connect on LinkedIn, please follow Andrea and Greater Houston Community Foundation—where we frequently post about news and topics that could benefit your clients and your practice. 

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation:

• Estate Planning: Three Ways to Guide Charitable Conversations
• Bridging Generational Divides in Family Philanthropy: How Advisors and Community Foundations Can Help
• The Importance of Charitable Giving in Financial and Estate Planning
• A Conversation with Jennifer Klein Strauss on Philanthropy and Client-Centered Giving

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