Giving & Getting Back: HD Vest, Investacorp, The Investment Center

With the holiday season in full swing, Investment Advisor asked broker-dealers and financial advisors to describe how they have donated time and other resources over their careers. Reading through these vignettes, we have been touched by the generosity of organizations and individuals and impressed by the incredible variety of their non-profit partners.

Here is part 3 of 5 highlighting three of the 14 stories Investment Advisor magazine received from broker-dealers and advisors.

HD Vest Financial Services

Scott Rawlins, president, HD Vest

For the past six years, Scott Rawlins, president at HD Vest, based in Colleyville, Texas, has been involved with Young Life Grapevine Colleyville, serving on the non-profit’s committee that “provides a foundation of financial, administrative and moral support for the local Young Life team,” he says.

“I am personally an ‘alumni’ of Young Life from my high school days,” the executive explained. “I experienced firsthand the amazing impact of this ministry as it brought me and my friends closer to Christ.”

The entire Rawlins family is involved, including his wife Jamie, who also serves on the committee, and two of this three daughters.

Steve Plain with children at Boys & Girls Club of America camp in Mamakating, New York.

Twenty-five years ago, Steve Plain, HD Vest Advisor, started a Boys & Girls Club of America in Wallkill, New York, “so kids could have a place to go after school, since so many were going home to empty houses,” he says. “Many of them didn’t have an adult in their lives to mentor them or even prepare a hot meal to eat. I wanted to make sure that these kids had a place to go where they could have opportunities to learn and grow like my own kids had.”

Plain had been the board chairman for 15 years before stepping down 10 years ago, but remains on the board of directors. The non-profit he started has made a mark, as it now serves 400 kids per day in before-school and afternoon programs in nine locations in Orange and Sullivan Counties in New York.

“We are also proud to provide summer camp for over 400 kids in the town of Wallkill and over 250 kids in the town of Fallsburg,” the advisor added.

Investacorp

An Investacorp home office team at an October 2018 food drive. CEO Patrick Farrell (blue shirt) stands in the back row, right of center; Leslie Vigil, senior vice president of Business Development, is located in the center of the group.

Investacorp CEO Patrick Farrell is keenly involved with Feeding South Florida, the most recent of numerous local charities supported by Investacorp and Farrell. Feeding South Florida delivers supplies and food to those in need due to natural disasters.

“Feeding South Florida allowed us to make a big impact getting supplies and food to those who need it most due to natural disasters this past year,” he said. “On Saturday, Oct. 6, 40 Investacorp employees helped sort, prep and pack over 37,000 pounds of food for Hurricane Michael relief. We’re now [in mid-November] collecting Thanksgiving food.”

Over the past 10 years, Farrell and his team have contributed to several other charities, including the Dan Marino Foundation, Tri-County Animal Rescue and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Associated President Paul Vladem participates in the Mercedes Benz Corporate Run in April 2016.

For the past five years, Paul Vladem, president of Associated Investor Services, and many of his advisors and staff have been involved with the Mercedes Benz Corporate Run in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The charity run helps support community health while also supporting the Run’s charity partner, United Way. “We also have gotten Investacorp involved at the home office level,” according to the executive.