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Ep #1 - How to Build a Legacy Giving Program That Actually Works with Mark Halpern and Ed Sluga

Philanthropy Friday

Release Date: 09/19/2025

Ep #9 How a Rabbi Turned Tragedy Into Global Healing: The Story of Kids Kicking Cancer show art Ep #9 How a Rabbi Turned Tragedy Into Global Healing: The Story of Kids Kicking Cancer

Philanthropy Friday

In this extraordinary episode of Philanthropy Friday, Mark Halpern is joined by Rabbi Elimelech “Rabbi G” Goldberg, Founder and Global Director of Kids Kicking Cancer and The Hero Circle. What begins as a conversation about philanthropy quickly becomes one of the most powerful stories of resilience, healing, and global impact you will ever hear. After losing his young daughter to leukemia, Rabbi G transformed his grief into a worldwide movement now serving children in more than 90 hospitals across 10 countries. Through martial arts therapy, breathwork, and emotional empowerment, Kids...

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In this insightful episode, Mark Halpern is joined by Cindy Wilson and Michelle Middlemore, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of MC2 Business Advisors Inc. With decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions, Cindy and Michelle specialize in helping owner-managed businesses navigate one of the most important and complex transitions of their lives: selling their business. They share why early planning is critical, how to avoid costly tax mistakes, and why philanthropy should be part of every succession conversation. Their holistic approach ensures business owners not only maximize value but also find...

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Ep #6 - Cross-Border Philanthropy, Tax Planning & Holistic Wealth Strategies with Jeff Hammer show art Ep #6 - Cross-Border Philanthropy, Tax Planning & Holistic Wealth Strategies with Jeff Hammer

Philanthropy Friday

In this cross-border episode, Mark Halpern is joined by Jeff Hammer, Founder of Forte Impact Advisors, based in Richmond, Virginia. Together, they explore the differences between Canadian and U.S. approaches to philanthropy, estate planning, and tax strategies for high-net-worth families. Jeff brings a unique background from leading major business units in aerospace, IT, and banking, to now helping families, entrepreneurs, and creators maximize impact through holistic planning and strategic philanthropy. With trillions of dollars in generational wealth transfer underway, Jeff shares how U.S....

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Ep #5 - Unlocking the Power of Donor-Advised Funds with Glen Gumalka of The Mississauga Foundation and Mark Halpern show art Ep #5 - Unlocking the Power of Donor-Advised Funds with Glen Gumalka of The Mississauga Foundation and Mark Halpern

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In this eye-opening episode, Mark Halpern is joined by Glen Gumalka, CEO of The Mississauga Foundation, to uncover one of the best-kept secrets in Canadian philanthropy: community foundations and donor-advised funds (DAFs).        If you’ve ever thought that philanthropy is only for the ultra-wealthy or those with private foundations, this conversation will change your mind. Glen explains how donor-advised funds make it simple, efficient, and cost-effective for anyone from business owners to families to young donors to create a lasting charitable legacy. In...

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Philanthropy Friday

In this inspiring episode, Mark Halpern is joined by Amy Stein, Executive Director of The Pixel Foundation (formerly the Henry’s Foundation). Amy shares her remarkable journey from growing up in a 114-year-old family business (Henry’s Cameras) to leading a national conversation about mental health and corporate philanthropy. If you’re a family business owner, an advisor helping multi-generational enterprises, or simply passionate about mental health advocacy, this episode will show you how to turn lived experience into meaningful, measurable impact. In This Episode, We Cover: ✔️...

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Ep 3: How to Leave a Legacy Through Donor-Advised Funds, Memorial Giving & Smart Tax Strategies with Luke Carter, Aniel Gokhale & Mark Halpern show art Ep 3: How to Leave a Legacy Through Donor-Advised Funds, Memorial Giving & Smart Tax Strategies with Luke Carter, Aniel Gokhale & Mark Halpern

Philanthropy Friday

This heartfelt episode of Philanthropy Friday brings together three passionate advocates for strategic philanthropy: Luke Carter (President & CEO of CAP Advisors), renowned advisor and son of one of my closest mentors, late Graham Carter,  and Aneil Gokhale (Director of Philanthropy, Toronto Foundation). Together with Mark Halpern, they explore how families can transform grief into lasting impact through memorial funds and donor-advised funds (DAFs). Luke shares his deeply personal journey of honoring his late father, renowned advisor Graham Carter, by establishing the Graham Carter...

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Ep #2 - Unlocking the Power of Flow-Through Shares for Tax-Efficient Giving with Mark Halpern, Ken Stern and Peter Nicholson show art Ep #2 - Unlocking the Power of Flow-Through Shares for Tax-Efficient Giving with Mark Halpern, Ken Stern and Peter Nicholson

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In this must-listen episode, Mark Halpern is joined by two national experts Peter Nicholson (Founder of WCPD) and Ken Stern (Philanthropic Advisor at Capital Ideas) to break down one of the most misunderstood and underutilized tax planning tools in Canada: flow-through shares. If you’re a generous donor, financial advisor, or charitable organization looking to maximize impact while minimizing tax, this episode will radically shift your perspective on what's possible. With the right strategy, flow-through shares can allow you to give $100,000 to charity for as little as $1,000 out of pocket....

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Ep #1 - How to Build a Legacy Giving Program That Actually Works with Mark Halpern and Ed Sluga show art Ep #1 - How to Build a Legacy Giving Program That Actually Works with Mark Halpern and Ed Sluga

Philanthropy Friday

In this powerful episode of Philanthropy Friday, Mark Halpern sits down with Ed Sluga, President of PGgrowth, to unpack the incredible potential of planned legacy giving for charities, donors, and professional advisors alike. Ed shares how PGgrowth helps nonprofits from grassroots organizations to national institutions, design and implement sustainable legacy giving programs that drive long-term mission impact. Whether you're a fundraiser, advisor, or HNW donor, this conversation will reframe the way you think about strategic philanthropy and legacy planning. If you're wondering where to...

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In this powerful episode of Philanthropy Friday, Mark Halpern sits down with Ed Sluga, President of PGgrowth, to unpack the incredible potential of planned legacy giving for charities, donors, and professional advisors alike.

Ed shares how PGgrowth helps nonprofits from grassroots organizations to national institutions, design and implement sustainable legacy giving programs that drive long-term mission impact. Whether you're a fundraiser, advisor, or HNW donor, this conversation will reframe the way you think about strategic philanthropy and legacy planning.

If you're wondering where to begin, how to overcome the “ick factor” of talking about death, or how to inspire donors to give beyond their lifetime, this episode is your playbook.

In This Episode, We Cover:

✔️ Why most charities are leaving millions on the table by ignoring planned giving
✔️ The difference between asset acquisition and asset distribution life stages and how to tailor your messaging accordingly
✔️ The myth of needing a massive team or complex system to get started
✔️ The “incremental build” approach that helped one charity grow from $400K to $4M in annual gifts
✔️ Why legacy gifts increase annual giving by up to 41%
✔️ How life insurance and tax-efficient estate planning can turn tax dollars into charitable dollars
✔️ The collaborative power of the PGgrowth and WealthInsurance partnership
✔️ What you can do within the next 48 hours to take action and get started

Key Quote:

"It’s not about disinheriting your kids. It’s about disinheriting the tax department and adopting causes you care about."

Connect with Mark:

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhalperncfptepmfap/
→ Website: https://wealthinsurance.com/
→ Email: mark@wealthinsurance.com 

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I’m on a mission to create $1B dollars a year of charity and to help you go from Success to Significance.