Viken Mikaelian

Financial-Advisor-Clients-Donors
Uncategorized
Viken Mikaelian

Estate Plans: What Are Advisors Telling Your Donors?

Now that the SECURE Act is law, donors are (or should be!) reviewing their estate plans, retirement strategies and philanthropic strategies to see if they should make changes. But what advice are they getting from their financial advisors — and how could it affect your charity? Here’s how to be prepared for the new reality.

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Contemporary Women and Wealth
Bequests
Viken Mikaelian

Contemporary Women and Wealth

Which would you choose: buying yourself a pair of Jimmy Choos, or the opportunity to help someone else buy much-needed shoes? In this article, we discuss women and wealth… and in particular, how your non-profit can raise more money from the women, who statistically outlive men and thus control the wealth of most families during prime planned giving years.

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Love, Family and Estate Planning
Bequests
Viken Mikaelian

Love, Family and Estate Planning

My father hated estate planning. The words conjured up technical mumbo-jumbo he preferred not to think about. This was a big mistake, as he left his family with an estate plan. Here’s why estate planning is so important for you, your family, and the causes you care about.

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Get In Touch With Your Tone
Stewardship and Relationships
Viken Mikaelian

Beauty is in Ear of the Beholder

The tone of your voice matters. That’s true in business, in life, and in fundraising. Have you given much though to how you sound to other people, and how they perceive the tone of your voice? If not, now is the time to start.

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Gifts of Real Estate
Real Estate Donations
Viken Mikaelian

Just Say Yes (to Gifts of Real Estate)!

Did you hear about the $20 million dollar gift that went elsewhere? All it took was one misguided sentence: “We don’t accept those things, ma’am.” Don’t let fear of complicated gifts prevent your non-profit from thriving. It’s time to put a plan in place to accept gifts of real estate, and so much more!

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Planning your future
Self Improvement & Career
Viken Mikaelian

Money Mistakes You Need to Avoid in Your Lifetime

Personal finance is largely about taking a proactive approach to planning your future. Along the way however, it’s also about avoiding common mistakes that typically result in unnecessary financial stress. Here are some hard-won tips for planning your future (and your legacy).

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Job-Burnout-Frustrated-Male-Fundraiser
Major Gifts
Viken Mikaelian

Six Strategies to Prevent Job Burnout

Does your life feel unbalanced? Are you tired or exhausted most of the time? Do you feel like work consumes you? You may be experiencing job burnout. Here are some important ways to prevent job burnout and care for yourself and your career.

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CEO-Lovel-Job-Interview
Major Gifts
Viken Mikaelian

Preparing for a High Profile Major Gifts Job Interview

With a high profile job interview coming up, it’s important to practice some effective, job-winning strategies that can help you outshine your competition. Use these tips and strategies to prepare for – and win – the job of your dreams.

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Mission-Positioning
Effective fundraising
Viken Mikaelian

Mission Positioning During Tough Times

Figuring out your mission positioning can be tough during down markets and time of economic uncertainty. Cutting marketing activity right now is risky, contrary to what you might think. You’ll save on the short term, but lose in the long-term.

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Staying Productive
Covid Pandemic
Viken Mikaelian

Staying Productive Working From Home

If you once performed like an expert gymnast nailing every routine, you might have found that you’ve become a bit wobbly since you started working at home. Sure, there have been advantages—less time commuting, fewer office interruptions. But it can also be hard staying productive. Here’s how to score a perfect 10, every time.

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