Many financial advisors enter the profession to help others — but a great deal of meaningful impact can happen outside the office too. Volunteering time and expertise to local organizations doesn’t just serve the community; it can sharpen skills, broaden perspective, and reignite the passion that brought us into to the field.

Recently, Altfest Executive Vice President, Karen C. Altfest, wrote an article about the value of volunteering and her experience supporting charities in the New York City region.  She spoke about what charitable volunteering means to her and told the story of how her non-profit, the New York Common Pantry, won a grant from Invest in Others (IiO) — an organization that has awarded more than $7.5 million to advisor-led charities since 2007.

Some of the benefits that Altfest cites from her volunteer work are gaining a new/fresh perspective, growth of new skills, making new connections, and becoming more in-tune with the community around her.  Karen is quick to point out that while volunteer work rarely brings applause, new clients, or any financial gain, it is still an experience which is immeasurably valuable.  Helping to feed families, support schools, or strengthen local nonprofits probably won’t ever show up on an advisor’s balance sheet, but it can make you more empathetic, insightful, and fulfilled.

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