How Professional Advisor Daniel Castillo Connects Givers with Good Causes
For some people, wanting to give back starts with a nonprofit they already know and love. For others, it begins while talking with a financial advisor about retirement, estate plans or what they hope to accomplish with the resources they’ve built over a lifetime.
Ameriprise Financial Services Financial Planner Daniel Castillo has seen those conversations take shape firsthand. And for him, helping people give back is closely tied to what first drew him to Lodi.
A Community That Gives Back
A supportive community was one of the first things Daniel noticed when he moved here.
“I didn’t grow up in a place like this. This community loves to give back and serve one another. It really stood out to me,” said Daniel. “As a part of the business community, I want to give and encourage others to give. I want to be involved, to invest my time and resources.”
As a professional advisor, Daniel often has the opportunity to inform and educate his clients about ways to invest in Lodi’s future. And as a Lodi Community Foundation Board Member since 2019, he’s intimately familiar with the power of relationships and the benefits of giving where the most impact can be made.
“(Fellow board member) Russ Hayward has been a big mentor of mine. I liked that he was so involved with non-profits and the community. I got connected with him early on, and he let me know about the Lodi Community Foundation. So many people really care about others here. And I’ve seen all the incredible work that’s been done thanks to the foundation’s efforts.”
Helping Clients Give Their Way
With three children who’ve benefited from Lodi’s parks and recreational program, Daniel is personally passionate about giving to these causes, but his clients come to him with a wide range of interests.
“People are often charitably inclined, but not sure of the best way to move forward. My job is to make sure they’re informed and educated about all of their options. I spend time getting to know them, asking what impact they’re trying to have, and how they want to structure their gifts. That could be an immediate gift, an estate gift, or a donor advised fund. That’s probably one of the best options at Lodi Community Foundation.”
A donor advised fund, or a DAF, is a flexible fund that lets you support causes you care about, receive tax benefits, and recommend grants to nonprofits. There’s no setup fee, and a minimum investment of $10,000 to get started.
“More and more people are choosing DAFs even though initially, there can be a misunderstanding about how these funds work. A lot of people think their money goes in, and they can’t ever change it again, But that’s not true. The foundation does a good job of helping people understand and feel good about where their donation is going.”
Giving Starts With Trust
For a client to part ways with their money, there has to be lot of trust, both in their professional advisor, and in the organization they’re giving to. That’s why Daniel feels so confident in sending his clients to LCF.
“Any time I send people to sit down with (LCF Executive Director) Louis, they come away with significantly more understanding. Seeing the good the foundation has done in the community has had a strong influence on me. I’ve seen first-hand the difference they make for the nonprofits they help, who make an impact year after year. They’re often the first to step up when there’s an urgent need, while also understanding the big picture and planning for future needs.”
For Daniel, those conversations ultimately come back to what first struck him about Lodi: people here want to help one another. Sometimes they just need help figuring out how.
That’s one reason the relationship between a donor, a professional advisor and Lodi Community Foundation can be so valuable. Your advisor already understands your financial life. LCF can bring knowledge of charitable options and the community you want to support.
And you don’t have to wait for your advisor to bring it up. If giving back is something you want to make part of your plans, tell them. A simple conversation about the causes you care about can be the beginning of something that makes a difference for years to come.
Ready to learn more about ways to give to LCF, including donor Advised Funds? Learn more at https://lodicommunityfoundation.org/open-new-fund-2/