Webinar: May 27, 2021
How Do I Talk to My Clients
About Charitable Giving?

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST


(12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST)

This free event is for advisors who recognize the value of discussing charitable giving with their clients but aren’t sure how to approach it or what to say. This webinar will provide highly practical approaches to raising the topic of charitable giving.

Four specialists in charitable giving and graduates of the MFA-P™ Designation program created by Knowledge Bureau, CAGP and Spire Philanthropy will come together as panelists on May 27 for this important discussion.

You are invited to join Brad Offman, Serena Hak, Michael Flux, and Mark Halpern to learn more about:

  • When to talk about giving
  • What events give rise to a conversation
  • How to discuss with new/existing clients
  • Conversation starters: what to say to clients • How to manage objections

Who Should Attend?

This free webinar is open to all professionals interested in enhancing their value proposition by understanding how to effectively discuss charitable giving with clients

Meet the Speakers & Panelists


Brad Offman

Brad Offman is Founder and Managing Partner of Spire Philanthropy, a management consultancy specializing in corporate-charitable partnerships and philanthropic advisory services.

Brad is currently on the Board of the V-42 Foundation, the CAGP Foundation and Benefaction Foundation. He is a past member of the National Advisory Council for Imagine Canada and is a founding partner and chief curator of the Corporate Partnership Conference.

He is a past Faculty Member for the CAGP Original Gift Planning Course and is currently on the organization’s Government Relations Committee. He is also on the Editorial Advisory Board for Gift Planning in Canada.

Brad holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Toronto and a First Class Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree from McGill University in Montreal. He also holds the Certified Fundraising Executive and Master Financial Advisor – Philanthropy designations.


Michael Flux

Mike joined CC&L Private Capital in 2003 (17 years) and has worked in the investment management industry since 1998 (21+ years). He understands the importance to clients of tailored solutions that meet their unique situations. Mike’s knowledge spans a wide range of assets classes, from traditional to alternative, including real estate, infrastructure, private loans, private equity and hedge strategies. Mike’s focus and career passions center around alternative investing, helping business owners to access expansion or success capital (private equity/debt), social impact, and strategic philanthropy.

Mike is also very active in charitable pursuits and strategic philanthropy. Mike is committed to helping his clients with strategic philanthropy and to support this he recently earned the Master Financial Advisor – Philanthropy (MFA-P) Designation (with Honors).

Mike can assist foundations with donor relations, and efficient charitable giving strategies that may help to enhance the impact that donor dollars can have. Along with his family, Mike has established and funded The Flux Foundation (Donor-Advised Fund) with the goal of driving positive change and social impact in our shared community. Mike is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and registered Portfolio Manager. His other designations and degrees include: CFP, CIM, MFA-P™, B.Comm Honors, MBA. Mike is also a member of Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) and York Angel Investors (YAI).


Serena Hak

Serena is the Executive Director of The Donor Motivation Program® Canada and Head of Philanthropic Advisory Services at CI Assante Wealth Management. She is deeply passionate about helping Canadians discover their own philanthropic potential through strategic wealth planning.

Serena is dedicated to breaking down the barriers between the for-profit and non-profit sectors. She has been featured in The Globe and Mail and National Post’s Guide to Charitable Giving and is a frequent speaker for organizations such as the Association of Gift Planning Professionals and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.

In 2018, Serena created the Hak Foundation through the Vision 2020 program at the Toronto Foundation.

Serena currently serves on the boards of AMREF Canada, Outside the March and is Co-Chair of the Stop Community Food Centre’s What’s On The Table event. In past years, she has dedicated her time to the George Hull Centre for Children and Families and the Cabbagetown We Read program. In her free time she can be spotted trotting around Toronto with her Beagle, Bogart.


Mark Halpern

Mark Halpern, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), Master Financial Advisor, Philanthropy (MFA-P) was a Faculty Member and content developer for the MFA-P curriculum.

He has helped business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and affluent families for 30 years. As CEO of WEALTHinsurance.com®, Mark and his team specialize in the areas of Life Insurance, Philanthropy, Estate Planning, and Tax Minimization.

Widely known for his philanthropic activities, Mark is Chair of the Professional Advisory Committee at the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto and a Trustee, a member of the Professional Advisors Council at SickKids Foundation, Promise Legacy Council at St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, Professional Advisor Task Force at St. Michaels Hospital Foundation, Planned Giving Advisory Committee at TVOntario, Toronto Estate Planning Council, Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners, Canadian Association of Gift Planners and CALU.


Ready to Earn New Credentials in Strategic Philanthropy?

The MFA-P™ Philanthropy Designation teaches advisors and their clients:

  • How to incorporate philanthropy into their practice in pragmatic terms
  • How to focus on gift planning strategies and vehicles that are relevant to client’s goals
  • Practical experience with numerous working case studies that allow advisors to apply that knowledge.