Around the Firm, 1Q 2025 (Faith-Based Edition)
Q1 2025 FEATURES & HIGHLIGHTS
Innovest in the Media
The Beacon Show with Tamara Jackson
Citywire
Family Office Magazine
NonProfitPRO
PLANSPONSOR
U.S. Christian Chamber of Commerce
Innovest at Conferences
2025 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
Association of Business Administrators of Christian Colleges (ABACC)
Legatus Summit Conference
The Newman Guide Catholic Conference
Southeast Region Diocesan Finance & HR Leaders Conference
Progressions & Team Updates
As we look back on the first quarter of 2025, Innovest is thrilled to highlight some exciting achievements within our team. These milestones reflect our team’s dedication and exceptional contributions, reinforcing our commitment to excellence and stewardship.
We’re excited to announce that Austin Cleveland has passed the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) Exam. Join us in congratulating Austin on this well-deserved achievement! Analyst Ian Gilbert has passed the second of three levels of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) program, while Analyst John Walsh successfully completed the first exam. The CFA charter is one of the most prestigious distinctions in the financial industry, showcasing an exceptional work ethic, analytical expertise, and a deep commitment to ethical principles. Congratulations, Ian and John!
We also want to recognize Manager Eileen Pohs and Analyst Sarah McGuire, who were recipients of the monthly Service to Others Award. Eileen and Sarah were honored for their dedication, extra effort, and steadfast commitment to both the Innovest team and our clients.
Awards & Publications
Several Innovest team members have recently shared their expertise through notable publications. Peter Mustian and Sydney Aeschlimann were featured in PLANSPONSOR with their article, “Exploring Alternative Investment Vehicles in Employee-Sponsored Retirement Plans.” Sloan Smith and Matthew Foster contributed to Family Office Magazine with their article, “Direct Indexing: A Modern Approach To Customized Investment Strategies,” while Sloan was also featured in Chapter 3 of the Citywire “Due Diligence Report.” Paul D'Alessandro, a regular contributor to NonProfit PRO, had two articles published, “The Dilemma of Turning Data Into Major Gifts,” and “The Real Cost of Nonprofit Budget Cuts? — Employees.” Paul D’Alessandro was also published on the U.S. Christian Chamber of Commerce blog website with his article, “Leadership Essentials: A Modern Perspective.”
Richard Todd was a highlighted guest on The Beacon Show with Tamara Jackson, a nationwide religious podcast. The show features in-depth conversations with influential leaders who exemplify their faith through their actions and influence.
These publications and podcasts showcase the expertise and thought leadership within the Innovest team, reinforcing our commitment to providing valuable insights for our clients.
Service To Others
Stewardship is at the heart of everything we do at Innovest, and we have kicked off the year with a strong start by volunteering with incredible causes in the Denver area. Several members of the Innovest team participated in Cherry Creek School District's Super Service Saturday Hygiene Assembly, where they helped assemble 2,000 hygiene kits. These kits will soon be distributed to twenty school pantries, providing essential support to students and families in need. Additionally, we volunteered with Project Angel Heart, packaging 1,500 nutritious meals for individuals facing food insecurity. Project Angel Heart focuses on delivering medically tailored meals to people with life-threatening illnesses, ensuring they receive the nourishment necessary for recovery and wellbeing. Furthermore, Innovest volunteers assisted at Arrupe Jesuit High School, helping scholarship candidates refine their interview skills. With twenty-two seniors participating in interview rounds for the Daniels Scholarship and Greenhouse Scholarship, this was a fantastic achievement for the students and a meaningful way for Innovest to support their success. One of Innovest’s former interns, Osmar Garcia, was among the Daniels Scholarship recipients. We are so proud of him!
Conferences, Speaking Engagements, and Webinars
Innovest, in collaboration with CLA (Clifton Larson Allen) and Holmes Murphy, successfully hosted the Rocky Mountain Benefits Conference, providing valuable insights and education on all aspects of retirement plans. We were also proud to feature and donate to Project C.U.R.E., an organization dedicated to delivering medical supplies and equipment to communities in need. Innovest’s Rick Rodgers and Troy Jensen spoke to the group on Completing the Journey: Participant Post-Employment Considerations. In addition, the 25th Annual Rocky Mountain Nonprofit Conference, co-hosted by Innovest, Kundinger, Corder & Montoya, P.C., and AmPhil, was a resounding success, drawing a large turnout of Colorado nonprofit professionals. Innovest’s Steven Fraley presented the Nonprofit Economic Outlook for the year.
In January, Innovest hosted the Christian C-Suite Leadership Summit in Arizona. It was a great success as Christian business leaders gathered from around the country to be encouraged to live their faith boldly. The Summit focused on the challenges facing Christians in the workplace and how to approach and overcome them with courage
To advance financial education for both the public and our clients, Innovest hosted several insightful webinars during the first quarter. Sloan Smith interviewed Chloe Berry, Managing Partner at Brookfield, to discuss Brookfield’s infrastructure strategy and market outlook. Additionally, Jared Martin and Steven Fraley, together with Brian Kersmanc, Portfolio Manager at GQG Partners, led a 30-minute session examining the shifting global market landscape and its potential implications. These webinars offered our audience valuable perspectives and industry expertise.
Richard Todd and Sarah Newman also spoke at the Association of Business Administrators of Christian Colleges (ABACC) 66th Annual Conference, presenting Wrestling with Values: ESG Challenges for Christian Investors. Rich further contributed to the dialogue at the Legatus Summit Conference in February, joining a panel on The Moral Theology of Investing. In January, Sarah Newman and Christian O’Dwyer spoke at The Newman Guide Catholic Conference, delivering a presentation on Keeping Your Portfolio True to Catholic Values. Their contributions continue to enrich the ongoing conversation around values-based investing. In addition to speaking at these conferences, our busy professionals also attended and networked at the 2025 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast as well as the 2025 Southeast Region Diocesan Finance & HR Leaders conference.
Greg Ring, who works closely with our new division, IPS Philanthropy Architects (IPSPA), conducted several webinars providing wealthy families and nonprofits with insights on how IPSPA can support planned giving. These sessions highlighted strategies for charitable giving that minimize tax burdens and enable donors to be more generous with their assets during their lifetime.