Financial advisors, nonprofit leaders, and industry voices reflect on giving back, community impact and 20 years of Invest in Others.
For 20 years, Invest in Others has celebrated a powerful idea: financial advisors can make an extraordinary difference not only in the lives of their clients, but in the communities and causes they care about most.
That spirit was on full display at the 20th Anniversary Invest in Others Awards Gala in Boston, where hundreds of financial services professionals, nonprofit leaders, and supporters came together to celebrate charitable leadership and the people putting generosity into action.
Throughout the evening, veteran financial journalist and editor Chris Latham captured conversations with award recipients, finalists, Invest in Others leaders, and members of the financial services community. With more than 20 years of experience spanning journalism, marketing and financial services—including leadership roles at Financial Times, InvestmentNews, and Wealth Solutions Report—Chris brought his unique industry perspective to conversations about what giving back means and why the charitable work of financial advisors matters.
Celebrating the 2026 Award Recipients
The evening honored five financial advisors whose commitment to nonprofit organizations and communities exemplifies the mission of Invest in Others.
Michael Skrynecki, CFP®, RICP® of Skrynecki Financial Planning Group of Raymond James received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the Wiskott-Aldrich Foundation.
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Amy Weinberger of Green Earth Financial Professionals and Osaic received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her work with Soft Bones, Inc.
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John R. Thane, CRPC®, CMFA™ of Peak Financial Group at Ameriprise Financial Services received the Community Service Award for his work with Metroport Meals On Wheels.
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David Shnitzer of CARE Private Wealth received the Emerging Impact Award for his work with ONETrack International.
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Ben French of CoreNorth Capital Planning received the Catalyst Award for his work with Shepherd’s Way, Inc.
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Why Giving Back Matters
The conversations from Boston went beyond the awards themselves.
Community Service Award finalist Jesse Giordano, CFP®, CAP®, RLP®, CEBC®, founder of Opal Wealth Advisors, spoke with Latham about the value of Invest in Others and the importance of advisors going beyond their day-to-day work to serve others.
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Kojo Gyabaah, CFP®, Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, shared what “giving back” means to him personally.
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Invest in Others Board Chair Meghan Peachey reflected on the value of bringing financial advisors together to hear how their peers are strengthening communities and supporting causes across the country.
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Invest in Others President & CEO Barkley Payne shared what inspires him about the Awards Gala, the mission behind Invest in Others and the many ways wealth management professionals can become involved.
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Nicole Morgan, Chief Development Officer at Invest in Others, reflected on the significance of seeing so many financial advisors devote their time, talent and resources to helping others.
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Together, these conversations offer a glimpse into the generosity, passion and sense of purpose that have fueled Invest in Others for two decades—and continue to inspire its next chapter.
Celebrating 20 Years—and Growing What Comes Next
The 20th Anniversary Awards Gala was both a celebration of how far Invest in Others has come and a reminder of how much more is possible when an industry comes together around service.
The evening even ended on a high note with Band of Brothers, featuring financial services industry professionals Edward Sudzina of Raymond James, Chris Castro of Fidelity Investments, and Kenneth Taylor of NYLIFE Securities, taking the stage to help celebrate 20 years of impact.
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Explore the videos from the evening, meet the people behind the stories, and discover what it means to be part of a community committed to growing the charitable impact of financial advisors.
