When John Lyons was named the 2025 Invest in Others Volunteer of the Year, he was recognized for more than a decade of dedication to helping vulnerable children in Cambodia through Hope for the Silent Voices, a nonprofit founded by his son, Eric.
Now, just one year later, John has taken on a new role: helping select the financial advisors whose charitable work will be celebrated as part of the 2026 Invest in Others Awards.
That experience has given John a unique perspective. Having once been on the other side of the judging process, he knows firsthand what it means to share a story of charitable impact and what it feels like to see the extraordinary work being done by fellow financial advisors.
His biggest takeaway? He wasn’t surprised by what he saw. He was impressed.
“Substantially impressed” by the finalists
When asked what surprised him most about this year’s finalists, John reflected on a feeling he experienced when he was a candidate for the award himself. “I guess I was not surprised but substantially impressed,” he mentioned in a recent Q&A interview.
As a 2025 finalist and honoree, John remembers watching videos highlighting the charitable work of other advisors. Serving as a judge this year, he found himself experiencing that same sense of admiration all over again. What stood out most was the breadth and selflessness of the work.
“I saw the same thing as I witnessed last year as a candidate when viewing the videos of the work that was being done by so many others. That being the widespread, unselfish dedication to assist those in need, often in desperate need.”
For John, the finalists demonstrate something fundamental about the financial advice profession: The impact of a financial advisor can extend far beyond the clients they serve. Across communities and causes, advisors are using their time, talents and resources to address some of society’s most pressing needs.
The power of simply sharing the story
How can this year’s finalists inspire other financial advisors? John’s answer is simple: “Quite simply by sharing their stories.” That is at the heart of the Invest in Others Awards.
Every year, the awards shine a light on financial advisors who are making an extraordinary difference through charitable work. Their stories don’t just recognize what they have accomplished, they create opportunities for others to see what is possible.
John knows the power of that storytelling firsthand. His own charitable journey has been deeply personal. His son Eric founded Hope for the Silent Voices in 2007, and for many years the organization’s work has focused on vulnerable and poverty-stricken children in Cambodia. Among its efforts is a safe home for girls who have faced extraordinarily difficult and dangerous circumstances.
John and his late wife, Kaye, were active participants in the organization for more than 12 years. His experience demonstrates how charitable involvement can become woven into a family’s life and evolve into a lasting commitment to a cause.
“The helper may well be blessed more than those helped”
For financial advisors who may be considering getting involved in charitable work or volunteering, John’s advice goes beyond simply encouraging them to give back. He encourages advisors to experience it for themselves.
“Before the fact, it may be difficult to realize the benefits that one receives themselves in helping others but the helper may well be blessed more than those helped.”
John is quick to clarify that this isn’t selfish. “That’s not selfish; it’s self-fulfilling.”
His message is also one of accessibility. You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment, have a certain amount of wealth or reach a certain stage in your career to make a difference. “There need be no age limit to participate in some fashion in doing volunteer work,” he says.
It’s a reminder that charitable impact can take many forms. It can mean serving on a nonprofit board, mentoring, volunteering time, making a financial contribution, lending professional expertise or simply showing up for a cause that matters.
A career built on relationships and a legacy built on giving
John’s own career spans more than five decades in the financial services industry.
After graduating from Duke University with a degree in geology, he spent seven years with Shell Chemical before moving to Chicago and joining Merrill Lynch in 1969. He later became a senior vice president at Blythe Eastman Dillon and, in 1980, helped launch Gilford Securities.
In 1985, John founded J Lyons Fund Management, Inc., where his son Dana joined him in 2000. He was also one of the founders of the Society of Asset Allocators and Fund Timers in 1989, now known as the National Association of Active Investment Managers.
But alongside his professional accomplishments, John’s commitment to giving back has become an important part of his legacy.
His involvement with Hope for the Silent Voices has connected his family to the lives of children thousands of miles away. And his experience as both an award recipient and a judge has given him an even broader appreciation for the many ways financial advisors are making a difference.
Celebrating the advisors who invest in others
The 2026 Invest in Others Award finalists represent that same spirit of generosity and service.
Their stories remind us that financial advisors have an opportunity to use their skills, resources and influence to create meaningful change, not only in the financial lives of their clients, but in their communities and around the world.
As John has learned firsthand, sometimes the best way to inspire others is simply to tell the story.
And when those stories are shared, they can do more than recognize one person’s impact. They can encourage the next advisor to get involved, volunteer for the first time, support a new cause or take an existing commitment to the next level. That is the ripple effect of investing in others.
Learn more about John Lyons and his
2025 Volunteer of the Year recognition
