Stewarding the Future: Adam Wilson’s Dream for the Professional Advisors Network

Since childhood, giving has been an important part of Adam Wilson’s life. As a financial planner, he’s committed to helping others build their philanthropic legacy. 

“As I grew up, church was a huge part of our life, and back then, people wrote checks. I remember as a kid on Saturday night watching my dad write a check to the church,” Adam shared.

This model created the foundation for Adam’s giving, saying, “What I have is not all mine, and I’m supposed to be a good steward with the resources that I’ve been entrusted with.” 

Now as a partner at Sugarloaf Wealth Management and longtime financial advisor, he’s entrusted with more than just his resources — he’s continually looking for ways to maximize his clients’ investments. 

An important resource? The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia.

Adam made the connection through his former boss at Sugarloaf Wealth Management, a staunch supporter of the Community Foundation and former chairman of the board.

“When I got involved with the company, I took on the role of liaison to the Community Foundation,” he explained. 

From there, Adam joined the Professional Advisors Network (PAN) and has been a member for almost fifteen years. He also serves as chairman of the Community Foundation’s investment committee and a member of the executive board. 

Adam believes one of PAN’s main purposes is education on the Community Foundation’s benefit for financial advisors and their clients. 

“There’s a big lack of education and understanding on how donor-advised funds work,” Adam said. “Once people fully grasp what the Community Foundation can do, then it’s a win-win for the client and the advisor. 

“We help [professional advisors] fully grasp how this can benefit their clients and why this is a tool that they should be considering in their arsenal.”

Through partnerships with PAN and the Community Foundation, Adam believes advisors can set themselves apart.

“I look at the Community Foundation as an extension of Sugarloaf Wealth Management. This is our charitable-giving advice and consulting arm, so I’m able to make myself more qualified for my client because of what the Community Foundation offers,” he said. “They’re local. They’re knowledgeable. They make giving easier.”

Adam has also found the networking opportunities through PAN important to growth and further education for himself and other advisors. 

“I can hear from one of the other members of the Professional Advisors Network about how they’re telling the story, how they’re using the services of the Community Foundation, how they’re pitching the services to their clients in meetings and discussions, and it’s helpful to bounce those ideas off other advisors,” Adam said.

PAN has also allowed Adam to connect with professionals in other fields. When he works with clients, he’s also partnering with a team of other accountants and attorneys for holistic client planning.

“A client has a full team,” he explained. “I think about when a patient goes to a clinic and they sit at a table. They’ve got the oncologist, they’ve got the surgeon, they’ve got the general practitioner, and they’ve got the team lead. They have people at the same table pounding out ideas and asking, ‘How can we best help this patient?’

“To me, what is valuable with the Professional Advisors Network is I can build relationships with other financial planners to see how they’re doing things, but also with attorneys and accountants to see how we can work together.”

As PAN grows and continues to reach more professional advisors and their clients, Adam hopes these partnerships allow clients and advisors to meet giving goals and give back to the community. 

“What kind of dent can we make if we all pulled our knowledge and time to make an impact?” Adam asks.