Philanthropy Friday
Welcome to Philanthropy Friday, the podcast where wealth, purpose, and legacy intersect. Hosted by Mark Halpern, CFP, TEP, MFA-P, one of Canada’s top life insurance and strategic philanthropy advisors, this show explores how to turn taxes into charity and create lasting impact through planned giving. Each week, Mark invites influential guests from the worlds of wealth management, law, fundraising, and philanthropy to share powerful stories, strategies, and opportunities for advisors, donors, and charities alike. Whether you're an advisor helping clients navigate complex estates, a donor looking to leave a meaningful legacy, or a charity exploring smarter fundraising strategies, this podcast is your playbook for tax-smart generosity and transformational giving. Less tax. More legacy.
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Ep #7 Sharpen the Ax: How Advisors Can Rewire Their Mindset for Epic Success with Mark Halpern & Chuck Downs
12/19/2025
Ep #7 Sharpen the Ax: How Advisors Can Rewire Their Mindset for Epic Success with Mark Halpern & Chuck Downs
In this inspiring episode, Mark Halpern sits down with Chuck Downs, founder of Epic Success Coaching, to talk about how professional advisors can overcome burnout, break limiting beliefs, and unlock higher levels of fulfillment, productivity, and purpose. With more than 25 years in the insurance and financial services industry, Chuck shares how neuroscience and mindset transformation can help advisors “sharpen the ax” working smarter, not harder and rediscover the joy and meaning behind their work. Together, they explore how rewiring your mental operating system can elevate both your business performance and your personal fulfillment. In This Episode, We Cover: ✔️ The biggest barriers holding advisors back and how to reprogram limiting beliefs ✔️ How self-directed neuroplasticity helps rewire your brain for confidence, focus, and success ✔️ Why burnout isn’t cured by doing less, but by doing more of what matters most ✔️ How to become a “confidant advisor” and deepen client relationships beyond transactions ✔️ The power of consistent daily habits to create gratitude, abundance, and momentum ✔️ Why working harder on yourself than on your career leads to lasting success Key Quote: 🧠 “Burnout isn’t healed by doing less. It’s healed by doing more of what matters most.” — Chuck Downs Connect with Mark: → LinkedIn: → Website: → Email: Connect with Chuck Downs: → Website: → LinkedIn: Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, share it on LinkedIn, and tag Mark! Follow Mark on LinkedIn for all things Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Strategic Philanthropy and Tax Mitigation. I’m on a mission to create $1B dollars a year of charity and to help you go from Success to Significance.
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Ep #6 - Cross-Border Philanthropy, Tax Planning & Holistic Wealth Strategies with Jeff Hammer
12/05/2025
Ep #6 - Cross-Border Philanthropy, Tax Planning & Holistic Wealth Strategies with Jeff Hammer
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. families are leveraging donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, life insurance, and creative giving strategies to multiply the impact of every philanthropic dollar. Whether you’re a professional advisor, a charity leader, or a family looking to create a legacy, this episode provides practical tools, inspiring stories, and fresh ideas for turning taxes into lasting impact on both sides of the border. In This Episode, We Cover: ✔️ How strategic philanthropy can eliminate estate taxes in Canada and enhance legacy planning across borders ✔️ The key differences between Canadian and U.S. giving structures, including donor-advised funds and charitable trusts ✔️ How life insurance and impact investing multiply wealth transfer and charitable impact ✔️ Why coordinated teams - advisors, accountants, lawyers, and insurers are critical for successful cross-border planning Key Quote: "You’ve got three choices with your wealth: spend it, give it away, or give it to 350 million people you don’t know. Which two would you pick?" Connect with Mark: → LinkedIn: → Website: → Email: Connect with Jeff: → LinkedIn: → Website: Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, share it on LinkedIn, and tag Mark! Follow Mark on LinkedIn for all things Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Strategic Philanthropy and Tax Mitigation. I’m on a mission to create $1B dollars a year of charity and to help you go from Success to Significance.
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Ep #5 - Unlocking the Power of Donor-Advised Funds with Glen Gumalka of The Mississauga Foundation and Mark Halpern
11/19/2025
Ep #5 - Unlocking the Power of Donor-Advised Funds with Glen Gumalka of The Mississauga Foundation and Mark Halpern
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 This Episode, We Cover: ✔️ How community foundations and donor-advised funds (DAFs) simplify giving and offer private-foundation benefits without the admin ✔️ Smart donation strategies using cash, securities, preferred shares, or life insurance for maximum tax efficiency ✔️ How foundations fund urgent local needs from housing to food insecurity while younger generations lead the way ✔️ How advisors and corporate donors can collaborate with foundations to create lasting, tax-efficient legacies Key Quote: "You don’t have to be Bill Gates or Warren Buffett to be a philanthropist. Donor-advised funds make it possible for anyone to give smarter, not harder and see their legacy grow year after year." Connect with Mark: → LinkedIn: → Website: → Email: Connect with Glen: → LinkedIn: → Website: Listen & Subscribe: Tune in to more episodes of Philanthropy Friday on Spotify: Listen Here (Spotify link to be added) Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, share it on LinkedIn, and tag Mark! Follow Mark on LinkedIn for all things Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Strategic Philanthropy and Tax Mitigation. I’m on a mission to create $1B dollars a year of charity and to help you go from Success to Significance.
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Ep #4 - From Family Business to Mental Health Advocacy: Amy Stein’s Journey with The Pixel Foundation
11/07/2025
Ep #4 - From Family Business to Mental Health Advocacy: Amy Stein’s Journey with The Pixel Foundation
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: ✔️ Amy’s experience growing up in and eventually helping run a century-old Canadian retail business ✔️ Lessons learned from working alongside family and how communication kept them strong ✔️ The transition from Henry’s Foundation to The Pixel Foundation and its renewed mission ✔️ Why mental health became the family’s philanthropic focus and how it ties into their legacy ✔️ How to build a foundation or donor-advised fund without needing to be a billionaire ✔️ The importance of sharing mental health stories responsibly and creating space for honest dialogue ✔️ Why business owners should define the causes they care about and involve the next generation ✔️ How philanthropy deepens client, employee, and community relationships ✔️ Practical advice for getting started with corporate or family philanthropy today Key Quote: "It’s easy to give away money. It’s hard to do it really well." Connect with Mark: → LinkedIn: → Website: → Email: Listen & Subscribe: Tune in to more episodes of Philanthropy Friday on Spotify: Listen Here (Spotify link to be added) Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, share it on LinkedIn, and tag Mark! Follow Mark on LinkedIn for all things Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Strategic Philanthropy and Tax Mitigation. I’m on a mission to create $1B dollars a year of charity and to help you go from Success to Significance.
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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
10/23/2025
Ep 3: How to Leave a Legacy Through Donor-Advised Funds, Memorial Giving & Smart Tax Strategies with Luke Carter, Aniel Gokhale & Mark Halpern
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 Memorial Fund. Aneil provides a clear roadmap for how community foundations make it easy to create endowments and living legacies that benefit future generations. Whether you’re a financial advisor, a charity leader, or a family looking to create a meaningful tribute, this episode shows you how to move from intention to action and why now is the best time to start. ✨ In This Episode, We Cover: ✔️ The Carter Family Story: Turning grief into generosity through the creation of the Graham Carter Memorial Fund ✔️ How memorial funds and donor-advised funds work and why they’re accessible to far more Canadians than most realize ✔️ The three beneficiaries of every estate (Family, CRA, Charity) and why you should choose two ✔️ How charitable gifts can mitigate up to 100% of estate taxes at death ✔️ Why cash, checks, and credit cards are the least tax-efficient way to give ✔️ Step-by-step process for setting up a donor-advised fund, even during times of grief ✔️ The importance of aligning giving with family values, causes, and long-term vision ✔️ How charities of all sizes can use community foundations to launch or strengthen endowment programs ✔️ The emotional impact of seeing family, friends, and clients contribute to a living memorial ✔️ How professional advisors can use strategic philanthropy as the “thin edge of the wedge” to deepen client relationships Key Quote: "There’s no law that says you have to leave a tip to the government. With the right planning, you can turn taxes into lasting impact and be remembered for generations." Connect with Mark: → LinkedIn: → Website: → Email: Listen & Subscribe: Tune in to more episodes of Philanthropy Friday on Spotify: Listen Here (Spotify Link to be added) Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, share it on LinkedIn, and tag Mark! Follow Mark on LinkedIn for all things Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Strategic Philanthropy and Tax Mitigation. I’m on a mission to create $1B dollars a year of charity and to help you go from Success to Significance.
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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
10/03/2025
Ep #2 - Unlocking the Power of Flow-Through Shares for Tax-Efficient Giving with Mark Halpern, Ken Stern and Peter Nicholson
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. In This Episode, We Cover: ✔️ What flow-through shares are and why they’re a game-changer for philanthropy ✔️ Why most accountants and advisors still aren’t talking about this strategy ✔️ How to use flow-through shares to double your tax benefits and avoid market risk ✔️ CRA’s perspective: Why this isn’t a loophole, but government-endorsed policy ✔️ How this strategy helps Canada lead in both mining and generosity ✔️ Step-by-step walkthrough of how the transaction works from analysis to execution ✔️ AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) myths debunked - what you really need to know ✔️ Who this strategy is for (and why it’s not just for the ultra-wealthy) ✔️ Real examples of donors giving $100K to charity for just pennies on the dollar ✔️ The perfect partnership between life insurance and flow-throughs in a giving strategy ✔️ Why now is the best time to plan before demand surges in Q4 Key Quote: "If you’re already giving, why not do it in the most cost and tax-efficient way possible? Flow-throughs are a no-brainer strategy for the generous." Connect with Mark: → LinkedIn: → Website: → Email: Listen & Subscribe: Tune in to more episodes of Philanthropy Friday on Spotify: Listen Here (Spotify Link to be added) Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, share it on LinkedIn, and tag Mark! Follow Mark on LinkedIn for all things Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Strategic Philanthropy and Tax Mitigation. I’m on a mission to create $1B dollars a year of charity and to help you go from Success to Significance.
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Ep #1 - How to Build a Legacy Giving Program That Actually Works with Mark Halpern and Ed Sluga
09/19/2025
Ep #1 - How to Build a Legacy Giving Program That Actually Works with Mark Halpern and Ed Sluga
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: → Website: → Email: Listen & Subscribe: Tune in to more episodes of Philanthropy Friday on Spotify: Listen Here 💡 Loved this episode? Take a screenshot, share it on LinkedIn, and tag Mark! Follow Mark on LinkedIn for all things Estate Planning, Life Insurance, Strategic Philanthropy and Tax Mitigation. I’m on a mission to create $1B dollars a year of charity and to help you go from Success to Significance.
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