By Marc C. Shaffer Dust off your Derby hats and mark your calendars. The Third Annual Run for the Roses benefiting Growing Futures Early Education Center will take place Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. at Hallbrook Country Club. This Kentucky Derby themed...
By Marc C. Shaffer Each year I set new goals and commit to something that will stretch me personally and professionally. Some of those commitments only last a season, while others become part of my long-term growth journey. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to...
By Marc C. Shaffer Years ago, when I began my career at Searcy Financial® Services, I had the privilege of being mentored by our founder, Mike Searcy. One of the lessons that left the greatest impression on me wasn’t about finance at all, it was about community. Mike...
By Marc C. Shaffer I’ve had the privilege of watching Mike Meyer turn a simple yet powerful idea into something extraordinary. What started as a way to help young music students has grown into Band of Angels, a nonprofit that’s changing lives through the power of...
By Marc Shaffer Newhouse Shelter is more than just a safe haven – it's a transformative ecosystem of hope and healing for survivors of domestic violence. Their mission is to shatter the barriers that feed the cycle of abuse while partnering with survivors to achieve...
The Ties That Bind
For people around the world, 2020 was a strange and lonely year. Many of us will remember it as a time of loss of family members, jobs, social lives, or even homes.
Cultural shifts, the fast pace of modern life, and other complexities, compounded by the practice of social distancing, might leave us feeling like true community is something from “the good old days” that will never return. In the wake of such a difficult year, we may find ourselves at a loss as to how to move forward and create a “new normal.”
But move forward we will.
One step toward healing is to build (or rebuild) stronger connections within your local community.
By Ryan Brooke
Across the world, one billion people lack access to basic health care. More than 7.5 million children under the age of five die from preventable diseases each year.
By Marc C. Shaffer
Consider this concept: A group of 100 people in a given location come together and donate $100. During their social, they decide which organization should receive the donation and they leave knowing that $10,000 will be donated to that cause.
This is the idea behind charitable giving groups across the nation, and I am a member of our local group, The Giving Group KC.
By Marc C. Shaffer
In 2013, I received an invite from a friend to attend my first Wabash CannonBall. Little did I know what a fun event I was in store for, and how it would become something I looked forward to every year!
By Marc C. Shaffer
Kansas State University was the place I found my calling as a financial planner, and I have tried to stay as active as I can with the university in order to give back. And of course, I love cheering on the Cats any chance I can get!
I am the past president of the Human Ecology Alumni Advisory Board for K-State and am nearing the end of my term as president for the Kansas State University Personal Financial Planning Advisory Board. I also serve on the Kansas City K-State Alumni Planning Committee. Meeting the next generation of financial planners is very rewarding, and our program is continually growing and reaching new goals to produce thoughtful, educated financial professionals.