Answering the Call: How We Helped a Local Nonprofit

Admin Roundtable Response - How You Can Know If Correspondence is From S.E.E.D.

Roberson Adopt a Charity - New Video Available!

Tax Season Update - Important Reminders

Answering the Call - Bringing Clarity to a Local Nonprofit - Brad Eaton, Sr. Vice President, Investment Services

Finding Purpose in the Madness - Tylar Polovchak, Operations Specialist

Good News - New Leadership Team Members

In this first episode of Your Two Cents, we dive into an important topic—how to recognize legitimate correspondence from S.E.E.D. and avoid potential email scams. Mae and Tonya break down key security measures, including checking email addresses, verifying attachments before clicking, and reaching out directly when in doubt.

Learn how S.E.E.D. ensures secure communication through trusted platforms like DocuSign and Microsoft, and why staying vigilant protects both you and your financial information.

If you ever have questions, please let us know. We are here to help you!

A brand-new video with Michael Grasso, Executive Director of Roberson, is out now! In this video, Michael talks about the exciting renovations and updates coming to the mansion and science center.

Tax Season Update - Important Reminders

As the tax filing deadline approaches, we want to share a few important tips to help ensure your return is filed on time. 

Three Key Steps:

1. If Bloom did not complete your tax return last year, please provide a copy of your 2023 tax return.

2. If you are claiming dependents, be sure to include their dates of birth (DOB) when uploading or dropping off your tax documents.

3. Please bring your driver’s license or upload clear front and back copies for your tax return processing.

Brad Eaton, Sr. Vice President, Investment Services

Early last year, I was contacted by an acquaintance who had recently accepted a volunteer role as Finance Committee Chair of a local non-profit. The organization was generally in good financial health and, thanks to a few generous donors, had a sizable endowment fund. 

The problem, as it turned out, was that the non-profit had never established a structured approach to growing and using the funds. They were self-managing the investments using a randomly selected group of mutual funds, which they were not monitoring on a regular basis. It quickly became apparent that their current circumstances exposed the organization to significant risk, while the Finance Committee and its members were unknowingly taking on considerable liability.

Unfortunately, this is an issue faced by many volunteer-run organizations. They often lack the necessary in-house expertise to effectively manage their investments or maintain a sound process to mitigate risk and minimize potential liability.

During our first meeting with the Finance Committee, we sat down and reviewed what the Committee believed to be the purpose of the endowment fund. In this case, it was to support programs and scholarships for members as well as to fund capital improvements to their facilities. We also discussed the obligations of fiduciaries and the responsibilities of the organization’s Board and Finance Committee.

Having laid this foundation, we created an investment policy statement (IPS) to provide guidance for investing the funds and to establish authority and accountability for all responsible parties. Included in this document was a section detailing the importance of diversification and correlation in mitigating risk. We also assisted the organization in establishing a spending policy that stipulates how the funds may be used going forward.

The client also made the decision to hire us as investment manager, removing the liability they had previously exposed themselves to in managing their own funds.

In the end, this client found themselves in a position of newfound security and confidence. The IPS and spending policies, when followed properly, will help ensure that the endowment fund lasts in perpetuity while helping the organization achieve its mission. The new structure mitigates much of the risk the non-profit had been exposed to, while also placing the responsibility for managing the funds in the hands of experienced professionals.

Tylar Polovchak, Operations Specialist

Starting a new job is always a mix of excitement and nerves, but jumping in right before tax season? That’s a whole different level of initiation. It’s like stepping onto a treadmill that’s already going full speed, except everyone around you is running like pros while you’re just trying not to faceplant. 

But here’s what I’ve already learned. The energy, the fast pace, the problem-solving — it’s all part of what makes this work so meaningful. Even in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen how much everyone genuinely cares about the people we help. It’s not just about numbers and forms; it’s about making sure individuals, families, and small businesses feel secure and supported through what can be a stressful time. 

Right now, my role might be more about just soaking it all in: learning the ropes, asking a million questions, and figuring out where I fit into the organized chaos. But even in that, I’ve found purpose. Because sometimes, the best way to help is to simply be there — whether that’s stepping in to take something off a teammate’s plate, celebrating a small win, or just making sure the office candy bowl is always stocked for survival. 

Tax season is a whirlwind, but I can already tell that this is the kind of place where you don’t just get through it. You grow through it. And I can’t wait to keep learning, contributing, and eventually helping clients the way I see everyone else doing every single day. 

We are proud to announce that Brad Eaton, Senior Vice President, Investment Services and Tyler Sherven, Senior Investment Planner have joined our leadership team.  

S.E.E.D.’s Leadership Team was formed to acknowledge team members who exemplify our company’s values and have personally and professionally dedicated themselves to inspiring, mentoring, and leading others in pursuit of making a difference in everything they do. 

All members of our Leadership Team are personally invested and committed to our success as shareholders in S.E.E.D. Planning Group. Each member plays a personalized role in S.E.E.D.’s collective success and either leads or contributes to teams focused on executing our firm’s strategic business plan.

Both Brad and Tyler have made tremendous impacts on our team.

Brad leads S.E.E.D.'s investment division and serves on the Suite(k) Participant Team.

Tyler was recently promoted to Manager of Institutional Services and leads our Specialized Investment Team.

For more information on our Leadership Team, please visit our leadership page.