Wake Forest Athletics

Photo by: ©WFU/Ken Bennett
Deacon Sports Xtra: New Financial Workshop Series Launched
5/5/2021 12:00:00 PM | General
Ah, the beauty of springtime. While spring brings new hope each year, it also can bring about the culmination of years of preparation, strategic planning and hard work. The years of hard work result in graduation for so many student-athletes. Hours in the weight room, disciplined nutrition and careful training lead up to postseason competition for spring sports (and fall sports teams this year!). Careful planning and diligent execution create successful outcomes. Coach Clawson spoke recently about his optimism for this fall; repeatedly, he reflected back on his vision from when he first took over the Wake Forest program and the years of careful preparation that are leading up to what is now one of the most exciting upcoming seasons in our history.
I was thinking about that conversation with Coach Clawson as I was doing my taxes a few weeks ago. Somewhere between tracking my IRA and itemizing my charitable contributions, I started thinking about how I could better prepare throughout 2021 to be more strategic about my finances to accomplish some personal goals. After spending some time carefully planning ahead for the coming year, I began to recognize some opportunities I had to be more thoughtful about investment, retirement and charitable options appropriate to my situation.
It was with this thought in mind that the Deacon Club launched its Financial Workshop series on April 20. For the first time, Deacon Fans had an opportunity to join together virtually to better understand tax-mitigation and protection strategies that would allow them to achieve personal, family and philanthropic financial goals. Deacon Club members chose breakout sessions where they had an opportunity to ask specific questions and learn best practices from experts in managing IRA Distributions and Insurance, Bequests and Trusts, and Donor Advised Funds. The resulting conversations lent both confidence and excitement around opportunities to strategically evaluate financial positions to make decisions that, in many cases, exceeded expectations on one's ability to impact not only their heirs but also the charities of their choosing.
"Understanding how to make best use of each bucket of funds – retirement and investments – for giving and preparing to pass to heirs was fantastic," read one email following the event. "Seeing how I could leverage a trust or life insurance to increase both what I leave to my children and seeing that I could make an additional gift to Wake Forest was eye-opening for me...I'm in!" read another.
One of Wake Forest Athletics' five core goals is to add value to the University, Winston-Salem and Triad communities. Through these Financial Workshops, I'm bullish on this additional opportunity to add value to Deacon Club members by providing these free educational learning sessions. I would encourage each Deacon Club member – regardless of personal situation, years away from retirement or status of your current estate – to consider joining us for an upcoming Financial Workshop. I'm confident that you will leave with a greater level of comfort and some specific questions you can bring to your tax adviser and financial planner.
And then enjoy the fruits of your careful planning and hard work. Just as I plan on enjoying graduation, the exciting conclusion of our spring sports season, and high-fiving Deacon Fans at Truist Field, Spry, Kentner and Varsity Gym this fall.
As always, thank you for all you do for Wake Forest student-athletes, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Go Deacs!
Not yet a subscriber or know someone who would like to receive these stories in their email inbox? Click here for the DSX subscription link - share it with your friends!
I was thinking about that conversation with Coach Clawson as I was doing my taxes a few weeks ago. Somewhere between tracking my IRA and itemizing my charitable contributions, I started thinking about how I could better prepare throughout 2021 to be more strategic about my finances to accomplish some personal goals. After spending some time carefully planning ahead for the coming year, I began to recognize some opportunities I had to be more thoughtful about investment, retirement and charitable options appropriate to my situation.
It was with this thought in mind that the Deacon Club launched its Financial Workshop series on April 20. For the first time, Deacon Fans had an opportunity to join together virtually to better understand tax-mitigation and protection strategies that would allow them to achieve personal, family and philanthropic financial goals. Deacon Club members chose breakout sessions where they had an opportunity to ask specific questions and learn best practices from experts in managing IRA Distributions and Insurance, Bequests and Trusts, and Donor Advised Funds. The resulting conversations lent both confidence and excitement around opportunities to strategically evaluate financial positions to make decisions that, in many cases, exceeded expectations on one's ability to impact not only their heirs but also the charities of their choosing.
"Understanding how to make best use of each bucket of funds – retirement and investments – for giving and preparing to pass to heirs was fantastic," read one email following the event. "Seeing how I could leverage a trust or life insurance to increase both what I leave to my children and seeing that I could make an additional gift to Wake Forest was eye-opening for me...I'm in!" read another.
One of Wake Forest Athletics' five core goals is to add value to the University, Winston-Salem and Triad communities. Through these Financial Workshops, I'm bullish on this additional opportunity to add value to Deacon Club members by providing these free educational learning sessions. I would encourage each Deacon Club member – regardless of personal situation, years away from retirement or status of your current estate – to consider joining us for an upcoming Financial Workshop. I'm confident that you will leave with a greater level of comfort and some specific questions you can bring to your tax adviser and financial planner.
And then enjoy the fruits of your careful planning and hard work. Just as I plan on enjoying graduation, the exciting conclusion of our spring sports season, and high-fiving Deacon Fans at Truist Field, Spry, Kentner and Varsity Gym this fall.
As always, thank you for all you do for Wake Forest student-athletes, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Go Deacs!
Not yet a subscriber or know someone who would like to receive these stories in their email inbox? Click here for the DSX subscription link - share it with your friends!
Wake Forest Women's Basketball: Marcy Carter Women's History Month Feature
Wednesday, March 11
Sebastian Akins Tough
Wednesday, March 11
Wake Forest Advances in 2026 ACC Tournament
Wednesday, March 11
2026 ACC Tournament Wake Forest Men's Basketball Highlights vs Virginia Tech (March 10, 2026)
Wednesday, March 11


