Each month we spotlight members of the Community Foundation of Broward’s Professional Advisors Council.

The PAC includes attorneys, CPAs and financial planners who help their clients achieve their charitable goals by collaborating with the Community Foundation. Council members have referred clients who establish charitable funds at the Foundation or who include the Foundation in their estate plans.

This month’s Q&A features Professional Advisors Council member Kaley Barbera Willert, J.D., LL.M. of Northern Trust.

Kaley is a Senior Vice President at Northern Trust who focuses on estate planning and trust administration – assisting high-net-worth families with wealth transfer strategies. She also specializes in Special Needs Trust planning to help families secure benefits for their beneficiaries. In addition, Kaley is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law, teaching Federal Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates.

Professional & Philanthropy

Q.What inspired you to enter your field?

My desire to educate and help families plan for the future in a low stress environment.  There is so much strife that we are faced with within our lives, and in the news, on a daily basis, so being able to focus some of life's stress on making good in our society, in our community and in our world is so very important.  If I can be a sounding board for my clients to help make them feel at ease with their planning and educate and foster this growth in making good in our community, then I have done my job.  There is nothing that makes me happier than knowing the families I work with feel safe and know their family and loved ones will be cared for when they are gone or incapacitated.

Q.What areas of planning do you focus on?

Estate planning, fiduciary administration, estate tax mitigation

Q.What do you enjoy most about helping clients with long-term or legacy planning?

I love the conversation with my clients.  I truly enjoy entering their world and learning about their family, their children, their friends.  I become part of their life and a trusted team member, not to mention the fun stories I get to hear from them along the way.  Earning their trust is such an honor.

Q.How do you approach conversations around charitable giving?

I try to always add philanthropy into every planning conversation that I have.  It may be as simple as discussing tax benefits with an IRA or building a lasting legacy with a gift or foundation, but it’s always a good idea to include philanthropic goals in planning conversations.   Even if a client isn't focused on making an impact now, the ideas discussed leave an imprint on their thoughts for future conversation and in most cases the clients circle back to including philanthropies in their plans.

Q.Why is philanthropy important in a strong estate or financial plan?

No matter how great your planning is, it can always improve by adding in philanthropic goals.  Not only can philanthropy help impact the causes that are near and dear to your heart, but it can also help mitigate taxes (both estate and income taxes).  In the income tax planning environment we now live in, this is increasingly more important to be aware of.

Q.Are there causes or community issues that are especially meaningful to you?

Absolutely!  Animal welfare and environmental stability are near and dear to my heart.

Q.What drew you to engage with the Community Foundation?

My connection with Broward County, my relationships with advisors in the community and my firsthand experience watching my clients smile to see the impact that they have made.  There is no one who does it better than the Community Foundation of Broward.

Q.How has partnering with the Community Foundation benefited your clients?

The Community Foundation of Broward has always made every client and fundholder feel so very special.  Each interaction that I have had with my clients and the Community Foundation has proved to be one of the most successful and exciting planning meetings.  The clients walk away feeling more in tune with their goals and knowledgeable about the strength of their future impact.  They get to have a sense of their legacy and that is priceless.

Q.What trends do you see emerging in charitable giving or estate planning?

I see a greater focus on the impact of income tax planning with philanthropy, especially with new laws that were put into effect with OBBBA.

Q.What advice would you offer advisors looking to include charitable planning in their practice?

I would tell the future advisors in our field to always find a way to discuss charitable planning and philanthropic goals.  Even if this is not at the forefront of a client's plan, it is something that can serve as a discussion point to more deeply understand what a client likes to support and what they care about.

Personal & Fun

Q.What area of Broward/South Florida do you call home?

Parkland

Q.What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

I used to sing and perform (tried out for American Idol many many, many years ago).  I am a Disney obsessed adult.

Q.How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

I try to spend as much time as I can with my family.  I have two young children (Emma-2 yrs old and Braxton-4 yrs old).  My husband, my kids and I love to take bike rides around the neighborhood and discover new fun playgrounds in Broward County.

Q.What is a favorite Broward restaurant, coffee spot or local gem?

Pasta And... in Margate-incredible authentic Italian food.   I also LOVE Ella Cafe for coffee.  Although, I must admit I don't get out too often with my toddlers at home ;)

Q.What is one word colleagues would use to describe you?

Energetic

Q.A favorite quote or guiding motto?

“You must be the best judge of your own happiness.”

- Jane Austen  "Emma"

More about the PAC

Our PAC is an elite group of tax and estate attorneys, CPAs and financial advisors who collaborate with the Community Foundation to achieve their clients’ charitable goals. Council members have referred clients who establish charitable funds at the Foundation or who include the Foundation in their estate plans. Working together, we help their clients to make a lasting impact through grantmaking support from their charitable funds at the Community Foundation. PAC members are invited to networking opportunities, continuing education sessions and special Community Foundation events.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OF OUR PAC MEMBERS.

To learn more about how the Community Foundation can collaborate with you to help accomplish your clients' charitable goals, contact Mary Margaret Toole, Director of Philanthropic Services, at mmtoole@cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503.

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