Giving It Away

Bill Parrott |

My family donates money through tithes and offerings, so I incorporated the practice into my business model when I started my investment firm. Giving is not a budget item because contributions come from the top - 10% of our firm revenue. At the end of each quarter, my wife and I sit down to pray over our offerings before giving any money away. It's a joyful time, and it's the best part of my job.

 

  • Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:7

 

Our charitable giving spans the globe from Austin to Africa. We help local groups like Partners in Hope, Candlelight Ranch, The Heart of Texas Pregnancy Resource Center, and International organizations like Arise Africa, Eagle's Nest International, and the Nicaragua Resource Network. We also support organizations we met through serving and our travels, like Galveston Urban Ministries, Mission Waco, Wellspring Church, and Wind River Ranch. Giving is part of our DNA. It's what we do, and I can't imagine a time where we’re not helping others with our resources.

 

  • Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. ~ Malachi 3:10

 

It was easy to commit to a giving program when we had no revenue, but our firm is growing, and so are our donations. My goal is to manage a billion dollars in assets to give more than $500,000 per year. At our current growth rate, we expect to reach this milestone in fourteen years. God willing.

 

  • Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." ~ Mark 12:41-44

 

To be clear, we do not give to get. We're not looking for quid-pro-quo relationships. Rather, we strive to be humble servants through giving, and it forces us to be sage stewards of our capital. When I launched my firm, industry experts and consultants panned my business model, saying my fees were too low and I can't give away 10% of our revenue. They foreshadowed doom and gloom. However, five years later, we're thriving, and we recently moved to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulation – a big deal for a small firm.

 

  • Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." ~ Luke 6:38

Our giving has increased each year, but I'm not alone, thankfully. Americans gave $449 billion in 2019, and corporations added $21 billion – record amounts.[1] As stocks climb to new highs and real estate prices soar, I expect the amount people donate to charitable organizations will increase substantially this year. The wealth effect is in full force.

 

  • Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. ~ Hebrews 13:16

 

If you’re curious, here is a list of organizations we supported through the years.

 

https://www.parrottwealth.com/community

 

Give early, give often, and be well.

 

June 15, 2021

 

Bill Parrott, CFP®, is the President and CEO of Parrott Wealth Management in Austin, Texas. Parrott Wealth Management is a fee-only, fiduciary, registered investment advisor firm. Our goal is to remove complexity, confusion, and worry from the investment and financial planning process so our clients can pursue a life of purpose. Our firm does not have an asset or fee minimum, and we work with anybody who needs financial help regardless of age, income, or asset level. PWM's custodian is TD Ameritrade, and our annual fee starts at .5% of your assets and drops depending on the level of your assets.

Note: Investments are not guaranteed and do involve risk. Your returns may differ from those posted in this blog. PWM is not a tax advisor, nor do we give tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor for items that are specific to your situation. Options involve risk and aren't suitable for every investor.

 

 

 

 

[1] https://www.nptrust.org/philanthropic-resources/charitable-giving-statistics/