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Department of Development for Leadership & Legacy Gifts
Planned gifts support NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale and Nova Southeastern University today and into the future. It is the perfect way to perpetuate your love of art and establish a legacy with a planned gift to the Museum. Planned giving includes any major gift that involves financial or estate planning, such as bequests, gifts of securities or retirement assets, life income plans, and gifts of real estate and personal property.
Our legacy giving specialist, Shari Meehan, can be reached at [email protected] or 954-643-3978.
We look forward to hearing from you and assisting you with your long-term plans to support NSU Art Museum and Nova Southeastern University.
We are deeply grateful for your support and generosity. Please reach out to NSU Art Museum development department with any questions or concerns anytime, we are always happy to assist you: 954-262-0221 or [email protected]
NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale
One East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Make a Big Impact with a Future Gift
The impact of a planned gift benefits future generations and makes a real and lasting difference in the lives it touches. Would you like to help ensure that NSU Art Museum and Nova Southeastern University can continue to make a positive impact in the community for generations to come?
When you establish a planned gift, you leave an inspiring and enduring legacy, and enable the Museum to pursue its vital mission of All the Arts for All the People in perpetuity.
Your legacy gift will allow the Museum and Nova Southeastern University to continue to engage the community through education, programming, world-class exhibitions, and operations far into the future. Legacy giving options include bequests and gifts that pay you income, reduce taxes, and benefit your heirs. These gifts are necessary to sustain the Museum and the university and to perpetuate their position in South Florida as preeminent cultural, academic, and educational centers.
Thanks to your generosity, the Museum will meet the challenges of tomorrow and continue to thrive and provide the highest level of visual artistic expression to the Broward Community and beyond. Together, we are building a strong, diverse, and inclusive community in Fort Lauderdale with art that will inspire future generations.
NSU 1964 Society
NSU’s 1964 Society is the university’s leadership giving society of alumni, friends, faculty, and staff members who have created their legacy at Nova Southeastern University and NSU Art Museum through a planned gift. The founding date of NSU is used to punctuate when the university began its legacy of academic excellence, research, and service.
In gratitude for their generosity, we spotlight the philanthropic leadership of 1964 Society members in university and NSU Art Museum digital and printed publications. Our members are invited to and recognized at signature university and Art Museum events featuring key NSU, Museum, and community leaders.
Types of Legacy Gifts
There are many different types of legacy gifts that can be created to reflect your philanthropic intentions and benefit the Museum. Examples include:
-Bequest in a will or trust
-Beneficiary Designations through life insurance or retirement plan assets
-Charitable Gift Annuities
-Charitable Trusts
-Donor Advised Funds
-IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD): If you are 70½ or older, you can make a taxwise QCD from your IRA directly to NSU. If you are 73 or older, your QCD can count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD).
Donors’ stories and Legacy Tributes
Read about how others have impacted NSU Art Museum with their donations.
NSU Art Museum sample of bequest language
To leave a gift to the Nova Southeastern University Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, consider including this language in your estate plans:
Planned Giving Advisory Board
NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale’s Planned Giving Advisory Board assists the Museum’s Board of Governors and staff in strategic planning for legacy gifts and identifying potential legacy donors. Legacy giving options include bequest in a will or trust; life insurance; retirement assets; and charitable gift annuities bequest in a will or trust; life insurance; retirement assets; and charitable gift annuities. These gifts are necessary to the longevity of the Museum and to perpetuate its position in the South Florida region as a preeminent cultural and educational center.
Members of this Advisory Board are asked to participate in three annual meetings and help build awareness of the Museum’s outstanding exhibitions, collection, education and public programs, and community outreach. This is an exciting opportunity to help ensure that the Museum will meet the challenges of tomorrow and continue to thrive and provide the highest level of visual artistic expression to the Broward Community and beyond.
NSU Art Museum Planned Giving Advisory Board Members:
Mona Bentz
Mona Bentz is a Senior Trust Advisor and assists clients in all aspects of operations and trust administration in a wide range of fiduciary and investment management relationships for individuals, families, and entities.
With an LL.M. in Estate Planning from the University of Miami and experience as an estate planning attorney, she brings expertise and experience in estate planning, asset protection, and business structuring and succession planning to her responsibilities at Northern Trust.
Ms. Bentz began her legal career as a federal judicial clerk before entering into private practice in Seattle and Chicago. She transitioned from employee benefits to estate planning after moving to Florida, and founded the Bentz Law Firm, P.A. in 2009, which primarily focused in estate planning, estate administration, business, and aviation law. Her broad legal background brought a unique perspective to her multidimensional experience in complex estate planning, business succession planning, and trust interpretation proceedings.
Mona received a B.A. from the University of Iowa with high distinction, a J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law with distinction, and an LL.M. in Estate Planning from the University of Miami.
Ms. Bentz is a member of the Florida State Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association, an inactive member of the Iowa State Bar Association, and recently relinquished her membership in the Washington State Bar Association.
Board Member, West Broward Estate Planning Council
Memberships:
- Estate Planning Council of Broward County
- Memorial Legacy Leaders
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Omicron Delta
- Phi Alpha Delta
Ms. Bentz has been an avid supporter of the arts throughout her life and is currently a board member of Funding Arts Broward. She also firmly believes in the power of microfinance to make real change in the lives of the critically impoverished, and has actively supported several national and international microfinance organizations, as well as local organizations supporting women and children. In addition, Mona is a member of the Rotary Club of Weston, through which she supports a variety of local, national, and international organizations.
Mona loves to dance, particularly Latin, Argentine tango, and ballroom, but also loves ballet, Spanish and Hindu dances which she learned as a child. She enjoys playing piano and flute, hiking, skiing, skating, music of all genres, and everything to do with her children, who are her ultimate pride and joy.
Andres Bonell
Investment management professional, entrepreneur, and philanthropist with over twenty years of experience in business development and operations. Currently serving in the advisory board of Bayco Aviation, Andres has been involved with developing businesses from inception to maturity throughout his professional career. As an advocate for humanitarian initiatives and philanthropic efforts, Andres has been engaged with local and international organizations with a focus in community development and social impact; founding member of the Help2Haiti foundation, created to assist families after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti; member of the board of Global Dreams, USA, with a focus in scholarship grants and mentoring of teenagers in Bogota, Colombia; member and mentor for the University of Florida LBTQ+ alumni association, with a focus in mentoring students for their professional and personal growth.
Andrew Britton
During his extensive career in the financial services industry, Andrew Britton has endeavored to provide exceptional professionalism while providing financial strategies for high net-worth individual, family and corporate accounts. He joined Wells Fargo Advisors in 1997, after having worked for two years at Merrill Lynch.
He has been recognized as a Wells Fargo Advisors Premier Advisor since 2001, a designation held by a select group of Financial Advisors within our firm as measured by three or more of the following: length of service with the firm, completion of educational components, business production, and professionalism. He also maintains his Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) certification.
Andrew earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from East Carolina University and his MBA from Nova Southeastern University. He and his wife, Andrea, have three daughters, Sydney, Skylar, and Romi. In addition to spending time with his family, Andrew enjoys fitness training, golfing, and fishing in the Florida Keys.
Dedicated to community and philanthropic leadership, Andrew provides charitable contributions to the United Way of Broward County, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Junior Achievement of South Florida, and SIDES. He is proud to have served on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of South Florida and to be a member of Leadership Broward Class XXXI.
Andrea L. Darlow
Andrea Darlow is a Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Officer at Bank of America Private Bank in South Florida. Her focus is on the administration of clients’ trusts and carrying out provisions contained in trust documents. Andrea recognizes that each trust, grantor and beneficiary is unique, and she provides highly personalized service to ensure the intentions of the grantor. She is the main point of contact for clients and their beneficiaries when it comes to matters of trust administration and will engage other Bank of America Private Bank specialists to assist, as appropriate.
Prior to joining Bank of America Private Bank, Andrea spent over a decade in trust and estate administration with Coconut Grove Bank, SunTrust Bank and Chase Manhattan Bank. She also has a unique perspective on philanthropy, having worked as the Executive Director of Development for Leadership and Legacy Gifts at Nova Southeastern University for 7 years, where she reinvigorated the university’s legacy efforts by securing future gifts in excess of $35 million dollars. She also held leadership positions with the Israel Cancer Research Fund, the National Council of Jewish Women and the Foundation at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.
Andrea obtained a BA in Criminal Justice/Liberal Arts with Honors from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and an MBA in Management with Honors from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.
She is a long-standing former board member of the Planned Giving Council of Broward County, and she is currently serving on the Joint Tax and Estate Planning Seminar Steering Committee.
In her personal time, Andrea enjoys paddle boarding and hiking (when visiting her college-aged daughter in North Carolina). She currently resides in Broward County with her husband and rescue dog, Shayna.
Mary Fanizzi Krystoff
Mary Krystoff is President at Fanizzi & Co. based in Fort Lauderdale. She is the executive mind behind some of the largest and most elegant corporate events, weddings, and parties worldwide. Her company is a full-service Event Planning and Logistics organization with over 30 years of experience in producing national and international events.
Jill R. Ginsberg
Jill R. Ginsberg, Esquire, a Florida Board-Certified Elder Law Attorney, specializes in Guardianship, Estate/Trust, Tax and Probate Law. She graduated Dean’s List from the Franklin and Marshall College with a B.A. in Business Administration and Accounting, and from Brooklyn Law School with honors as a member of the Moot Court Honor Society. Ms. Ginsberg’s previous employment history includes several of the Big 4 (CPA) accounting firms as a Senior Tax Manager and Director of Estate and Financial Planning, as well as a Tax/Estate Planning Partner in two well-known law firms. A former championship debater, Ms. Ginsberg often lectures and writes on Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship, Charitable Giving, and related issues. She is the recipient of several community awards and active on the boards and planned giving councils of several charitable and civic organizations including the Humane Society of Broward County, Memorial Health Care System, the Jewish Federation of Broward County, Community Foundation of Broward County, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, The
Riverwalk Trust, and she currently serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Meals on Wheels of South Florida.
Ms. Ginsberg also worked with many others to develop the Silver Tsunami Study for the Broward County senior population. Ms. Ginsberg was chosen by The Florida Bar to serve on their Elder Law Certification Committee, which includes the drafting of the certification exam, and she also serves on the Executive Counsel of the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar. Ms. Ginsberg is also the recent recipient of the Florida Bar 20- 21 Pro Bono Award.
Ms. Ginsberg is an Emerging and Mid-Career Contemporary Art Collector, sitting on the Collector’s Counsel at the New Museum and the International Women’s Counsel at the Perez Art Museum. She is also the head of the Planned Giving Board for the Perez Art Museum and is currently working to develop a plan for the Museum for their collectors. Ms. Ginsberg is also active in many of the local emerging art organizations such as Locust Projects, Oolite Art, Fountainhead Studios and Bakehouse Art Complex. She is an alumnus of the Commissioner Art experience. She was recently elected to the 21-22
Board of the Art and Cultural Center of Hollywood, Florida which focuses on contemporary and emerging art. Additionally, she is also studying for an Art Law and Money degree with Christies Education.
Ms. Ginsberg also holds a Level 2 WSET Wine Degree with Merit. She is currently the senior partner at Ginsberg Shulman PL with offices in Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton, Florida, as well as the owner of several other retail businesses. She lives in Hollywood, FL with her partner, David Kaplan, and their rescue dog, Jeffrey.
Renee E. Johnson
Renee Johnson is a Vice President and Banker in the Fort Lauderdale office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Renee provides advice and institutional access to some of the area’s most successful individuals, business owners and multi-generational families.
As someone who truly values partnership and does all she can to help clients, colleagues and friends, Renee takes the time necessary to understand what matters most to each individual. She couples her 15-plus years of financial experience with the world-class capabilities of J.P. Morgan to optimize opportunities on both sides of the balance sheet—investments, credit, cash management and estate planning.
Renee prides herself on being her clients’ first point of contact, and works alongside their professional advisors to construct a comprehensive wealth plan for generations to come. Always responsive and professional, she holds herself to a high standard and considers nothing more important than guiding her clients in achieving their goals.
Before joining J.P. Morgan, Renee was part of the Southeast Wealth Team at Wells Fargo Private Bank, catering to the planning needs of high-net-worth families. She also served as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley and Business Initiatives Manager at Bank of America. Earlier in her career, Renee gained exposure to Wall Street at a commodities hedge fund, advising a select clientele.
Renee earned a B.S. in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she was on the varsity teams for swimming, diving and volleyball, and was named an All-Scholastic NCAA athlete. She holds an M.B.A. from Lynn University.
A tremendous supporter of literacy and historical preservation, Renee is a board member of the Boca Raton Libraries and the Historic StranahanHouse. She has volunteered for the Literacy Coalition, Habitat for Humanity, Junior League of Boca Raton, SIFMA, and “Teach Children to Save Day” in Palm Beach and Broward counties.
Renee and her husband have three adult children and reside in Boca Raton with their boxer, Penny. In her free time, she is an avid swimmer and sports enthusiast.
Michael Leibowitz
With over 40 years of experience, Michael Leibowitz’s entire professional life is dedicated to helping individuals and families create and preserve their wealth. Michael has extensive understanding of advanced tax and estate planning techniques as well as sophisticated leveraging and wealth preservation strategies. He spends a substantial amount of time educating and partnering with banks and other professionals across the country to distribute his knowledge and solutions.
Michael works with advisors, attorneys, banks and CPA’s who hire him as their back office to implement these sophisticated strategies. His priority and focus is not only on helping the client keep more of their retirement wealth for themselves and donating less to the IRS, but he is also interested in reducing the client’s income, estate, and capital gains tax bills. Michael serves on many advisory boards and has passions that run deep in the world of art and charitable giving.
Christine Mills
Christine Mills is a financial advisor with Raymond James in the firm’s Boca Raton office. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry. She enjoys helping clients realize their financial goals whether its retiring with dignity or saving for college or any goal in between. Christine also works with privately held business owners and their families to effectively create succession plans that maximizes their financial potential while addressing the various needs of concerned parties.
Christine Mills is a lifelong learner and has a Master of Business Administration from Babson College, Master of Arts in Education from University of Saint Joseph, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Florida A&M University.
She holds the following registrations: Investment Advisor Representative (Series 66 the Uniform Combined State Law Examination), Series 7 Securities Representative Exam and the Life Variable Annuity Insurance Agent. She holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) designation.
She is an active volunteer in her local community and church. Christine lives with husband of nearly 20 years, two active children and their standard schnauzer in Boca Raton, FL. She enjoys traveling, reading, spinning classes and spending quality time with her family and friends.
Elissa Mogilefsky
Elissa Mogilefsky has been one of NSU Art Museum’s most dedicated docents. She is a retired executive of Raymond James Trust with over 20 years of experience in trust new business both in South Florida and in New York City. She has a thorough understanding of the tri-county South Florida wealth market and state of Florida. Ms. Mogilefsky has a passion for establishing rewarding, long-standing relationships with financial advisors and clients. She is fluent in American Sign Language. She also serves as a board member of the Jewish Federation of Broward County.
Nikki D. Packer
Nikki Packer is a senior philanthropic trust advisory specialist and senior vice president with Wells Fargo Bank within the Wealth & Investment Management division. She serves Florida in the Southeast division. Wells Fargo Bank’s Trust Philanthropic Services helps charitable individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations work toward their unique goals by providing specialized advisory services.
Ms. Packer works with individuals and families to define and help achieve their charitable objectives as part of their overall wealth plans. This may include gift and tax planning, multi-generational planning, reviewing estate plans, and the creation and management of donor advised funds, private foundations, charitable trusts, and other charitable planning strategies. She also works extensively with nonprofit organizations, where she advises in the areas of gift planning, endowment management, board governance, and other management issues. Nikki collaborates with her clients and their other advisors to leverage their resources to help maximize the impact of their philanthropy.
A career Philanthropic professional with over 25 years of experience in the South Florida nonprofit arena, Nikki previously worked at the Jewish Federation of Broward County where, as their Chief Development Officer, she spent close to 18 years growing the Endowment and enhancing financial resource development to over $140 million. Nikki joined Wells Fargo Bank in 2019 and brings a wealth of experience in stewarding high-net-worth philanthropists, multi-generational families and their trusted advisors towards making a positive impact in their communities. Nikki is a Board Member of the Broward County Planned Giving Council, Philanthropy Miami, and is involved with a large number of community organizations.
Ms. Packer received her Bachelor of Social Work from Indiana University. She also earned the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation from the American College of Financial Services in 2020. Nikki lives in Weston, FL with her husband, Michael and their 3 children.
Laura Raybin Miller
Laura Raybin Miller is senior vice president and financial advisor for the Suskind-ripple group at UBS Financial Services, Inc. the team is located in Aventura however, works with affluent and ultra-high net worth individuals and families throughout South Florida
In addition, Laura is a 24 year Commissioner at Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, Florida and has a passion for ensuring our community’s safety net hospital provides best of care and excellence in healthcare.
Laura has a son named Adam Raybin who is a fireman, paramedic EMT and captain with the Broward sheriff.
She hopes to be a young at heart grandmother one day as Adam will be marrying his sweetheart Jackie Wright on June 8th, 2023.
Brian Reas
Brian joined Northwestern Mutual in 2006 at our corporate headquarters in Milwaukee, WI. In 2017, Brian joined Northwestern Mutual – The South Florida Group in Fort Lauderdale as Chief Operating Officer and in 2020 was promoted to Chief Development Officer. In this role, Brian collaborates with our managing partner Kevin Lawhon to drive network office growth through targeted recruiting and improved performance of financial representatives and career advisors during their first five years.
Brian is also dedicated to making an impact in the South Florida community where he serves on the board of The Crockett Foundation, the NSU Art Museum’s Planned Giving Advisory Board as well as partnering with community organizations such as Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Joe Dimaggio Children’s Hospital and the Urban League of Broward County. Brian is married to his wife Lisa and has two children – Maddox and Adalyn.
Sharon is a senior member of UBS ViewPoint Partners, a multi-generational Private Wealth, Institutional and Family Office Consulting Team with $4.5 Billion AUM, and a Barron’s Top 50 Private Wealth Management Team, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023
Sharon, a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®), began her career in financial services in 1983 atKidder, Peabody & Co., which was later acquired by Paine Webber Inc. and UBS. She is a long-standing member of the UBS Chairman’s Circle, comprising the firm’s top Financial Advisors. Sharon is passionate about sustainability and is an Ambassador for UBS Global Visionaries program where she supports and advocates for a group of visionaries working to tackle some of the world’s largest social and environmental issues.
Sharon focuses on comprehensive wealth advisory to families of substantial wealth, family offices, foundations and endowments.
Sharon has garnered numerous accolades and recognitions from the industry throughout her career. Of note, she has been named to the Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisors list every year since the list’s inception in 2006, and the Barron’s Hall of Fame. Also to Forbes’ inaugural list: Top Women Advisors in 2017 and each year through 2021 and Forbes Best in State 2018 through 2021.
Sharon has been recognized on Irish America magazine’s The Wall Street 50 list also every year since 2006 and was named to its inaugural Top 50 Power Women list in 2016. She was also named to REP. Magazine and WealthManagement.com’s Top 50 Wirehouse Women list and Financial Times‘ Top 400 Barron’s also featured her in an exclusive article titled “All in the Family” in its Best Advice Column in December 2012.
Sharon has provided industry insights on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” and “Closing Bell,” and on Barrons. comand WSJ.com.
Outside of work, Sharon is a Member of the board of governors and chairman of the finance and audit committee of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), secretary of the board of directors of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), and in the Chairman’sCircle of the James Beard Foundation.
Sharon also spends time as a Sustaining Angel of 100 Women in Finance and is a member of the Economic Club of New York. She was a key member of the UBS Small Business Advisory Program, a joint venture with the Clinton Global Initiative. Sharon was previously co-chairman and a member of the board of the Women’s Venture Fund.
A native New Yorker, Sharon began her career in textiles and fashion upon receiving a B.A. degree in Fine Arts from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, NY. Sharon and her husband, Loring Swasey, live inRemsenburg Long Island, and Jupiter Florida.
Steve Schermer
Steve Schermer is Co-Founding Partner at Silverman Schermer in Fort Lauderdale. Mr. Schermer focuses his practice in the areas of taxation, private client services, estate planning and mergers and acquisitions. Super Lawyers and Florida Trend’s Legal Elite have recognized him as a preeminent attorney. In addition to serving on the Planned Giving Advisory Board for the Museum, Steve also serves on the Planned Giving Advisory Board for the University of Miami, is an active member of Funding Arts Broward and Make-A-Wish and also volunteers his time to the Community-Policy Relations Foundation, Inc. a public charity that he assisted generous clients to create.
Marc Shuster
Marc Shuster is a partner at Berger Singerman Law Firm in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. His main practice is representing family offices (international and domestic), HNP, private equity funds and syndicators in commercial real estate, and corporate joint venture work relating to the structuring of business transactions. Mr. Shuster also has substantial experience in cross-border transactions, including marina development and hotels. Mr. Shuster routinely assists his clients with sourcing and managing capital and deal flow. He was routinely recognized as a Chambers rated lawyer.