In our first installment of a two-part interview with Samuel H. Newsham, Financial Advisor, Founding Partner of N2H Wealth Partners, a Financial Advisory Group with Lincoln Investment, he reflected on the lessons, relationships, and responsibilities that have shaped his philanthropic journey and how those same principles inform the way he serves clients today.
We’re picking up with our very first post of the New Year, revisiting Sam’s reflections and a life shaped by service. We hope he inspires you this year!
How do you balance your professional responsibilities with your volunteer commitments?
The simplest answer is: I’m part of two great teams.
At N2H Wealth Partners, we have three unbelievable partners (Lisa Newsham, Paula Hocker, and Myself), an associate advisor, and a full-time assistant. We also have an additional associate advisor starting with us in January 2026, and we are hiring our summer intern when he graduates in May of 2026. If I have charity-related commitments during the day, my partners support me, and I do the same for them. We operate with a team-first mentality.
The harder part is balancing volunteer work with family life. My wife, Jacque, is incredible and has always supported my charitable work as well as my music career (I’m still a gigging musician). We plan ahead, coordinate schedules, and make sure our kids get to everything they need. It’s a juggling act, but with amazing partners at work and an even more amazing partner at home, we make it happen.
What role do you think financial advisors can play in helping strengthen their communities beyond providing financial guidance?
Our industry gives us a tremendous opportunity to create meaningful impact, not just for clients, but for entire communities. Advisors can use their financial skills to help nonprofits operate more efficiently, ensuring every dollar is deployed wisely. Beyond that, I believe everyone has a responsibility to leave their community better than they found it.
I get frustrated when I see people who grew up in Philadelphia leave and never look back. You don’t have to stay forever, but giving something back to the place that shaped you matters.
For me, that has meant supporting Golden Slipper Camp, a place where city kids discover who they are, and staying involved with two local high schools through their 403(b) programs and various sponsorships. We also fund a scholarship at George Washington High School in memory of my stepmother, who was their athletic director and the first in our family to enter financial advising. Continuing her legacy while helping the next generation is deeply meaningful to me.
Have you noticed clients responding differently to you or your firm because of your philanthropic efforts?
To an extent, yes, but I don’t lead with my charitable work. I never want anyone to think I’m doing it for business reasons. If it comes up naturally, I’m happy to discuss it or share perspectives that may help someone, but I don’t use it as a sales pitch.
Clients are often surprised by how involved I am outside of work, but the truth is, my volunteer commitments require about 10–20 hours a month. Some months are more demanding than others, but it’s manageable. Ultimately, people respect genuine involvement, and many appreciate working with someone who dedicates time to making a difference.
Do you intentionally align your charitable interests with your professional goals, or does the business benefit simply emerge from genuine involvement?
Genuine intention always comes first. I try to align my activities with my values and moral compass. I believe in being ethical to a fault and honest about who you are. Our firm has grown more slowly because we prioritize service over aggressive asset gathering, but our retention rates, including among beneficiaries, are exceptionally strong.
My top charitable commitments are tied directly to my upbringing: Golden Slipper Camp, Upper Moreland School District (my alma mater), and Williamson Corinthians Lodge #368 of the Freemasons. Each shaped me significantly.
I spent 10 years coaching wrestling at Upper Moreland, transforming a program from six wrestlers to 38 and ultimately winning a league championship. That success took a decade, just like building a sustainable business. If you focus only on rapid growth at the expense of service, you eventually hit a wall.
Freemasonry also played a major role in my development. My father was a member of my lodge for 49 years before he passed, and the values I’ve learned, selflessness, service, personal improvement, have made me a better man and advisor. Freemasonry aims to make good men better, and I believe it has done exactly that for me.
What advice would you give to financial advisors who want to engage more in community service but aren’t sure where to start?
Start by reflecting on which organizations or experiences shaped your life. At some point, everyone has benefited from a charitable act. Paying that forward matters.
There will always be excuses, not enough time, not enough money, not the “right moment.” But just like investing, doing nothing guarantees no results. Community prosperity is built the same way wealth is: through good decisions and consistent contributions.
If you can’t give time, maybe you can lend your talent. If you can’t lend your talent, maybe you can give financially. All three matter equally. In philanthropy, ego has no place, it’s about helping others.
At Golden Slipper Camp or on the wrestling team, every decision we make is centered on what benefits the kids’ lives and experiences. Sure, there are things I would personally enjoy bringing back from my camper days, but that doesn’t mean they make sense 20 years later.
My good friend, client, and Co-Director of Golden Slipper Camp, Matt Freedman, uses a simple framework that I love: the Three T’s: Time, Talent, and Tithe. Start with whichever one you can give. What matters most is simply that you begin.
