David S. McKechnie, CLU®, was recently honored at the Essex County Charitable Foundation’s (ECCF) 5th Annual “Celebration of Giving” breakfast, receiving the2018 Professional Advisor Award”, honoring his unceasing commitment to helping others, emphasizing those in greatest need, a dedication spanning more than 30-years throughout eastern Massachusetts and beyond. McKechnie is the founder and a managing partner of Beauport Financial Services, LLC, an independent, locally owned, client-centered advisory wealth and risk management firm based in Gloucester.
“Clearly, philanthropy holds a special place in David’s heart, evidenced by his numerous leadership positions at local and regional organizations. His decades of service have impacted so many, working with the YMCA of the North Shore making a tremendous impact on the lives of children and families especially those on Cape Ann, to David’s notable leadership as Chairman of the Board of Governors, Shriners Burns Hospitals For Children® – Boston”, shared John Colucci, Attorney, McLane Middleton.” David believes so strongly in volunteerism and giving back that he has infused this core experience into his work at Beauport making it his mission to elevate the practice of philanthropy, uniquely engaging his clients in the process.”
Begun in 2005, in 2012 McKechnie together with managing partner Derek J. Reed’s, CFP®, CLU® expanded the reach of the firm’s centerpiece for community support, the Richard D. Wilson Community Response Gift Fund, uniquely adding the hand of its clients. Now clients participated directly nominating non-profit charities serving North Shore communities, once again emphasizing service to those in greatest need. Together clients and charities craft and submit grant proposals to gain financial support to make an immediate and lasting impact of care. Annually the BFS team select proposals with ECCF verifying each charity’s community standing, with each client-charity winning team announced at firm’s holiday open house. To fund the grants the firm applies 10% of yearly profits, underscoring its founding principle, “where care meets craft(™).”
For over a decade the McKechnie and Reed families have been engaged in a singular volunteer experience that has further shaped their thinking and actions in support of children in unique circumstances. They annually travel to Jamaica’s Westhaven Orphanage, it’s a hands-on endeavor to re-build and expand the quality of life for these special children. More recently partnering with the firm’s broker-dealer, Valmark Advisers Inc., they apply the Valmark Global Gift Fund, again focused to those with the greatest needs…the children of Rwanda, Africa.
“Witnessing firsthand the compassion in David’s heart, how he guides our firm in meaningful philanthropic action, has been especially influential for our team. These actions of care serve to inspire us, families and businesses to bless others, a singular and memorable gift,” offered Derek J. Reed, CFP®, CLU®, managing partner, Beauport Financial Services, LLC.