How this award-winning advisor and his clients are building Guatemalan schools
“We wanted to honour every new client and whomever referred them to us by giving it all to the foundation then, in return, building a school in the honour of each of our new clients and their family and, whomever referred them to us. They then get to participate and be part of a global impact trip, where they open the school. It’s one of the most impactful days in clients’ lives. It’s truly transformational,” said Schmidt, “I’m a big believer that experiential learning is the most successful, longest-lasting learning and transformation that can place in people’s lives.”
Schmidt, the son of a Baptist minister, has a faith perspective, but emphasizes this is a secular initiative to help clients understand the impact of poverty in the global south and importance of working with the vulnerable children while being open to having their own lives transformed by the experience. By participating in the experiential engagement, they also become part of their school’s community as they follow the children’s and teachers’ progress. They also participate in a global citizenship forum, which includes the Canadian ambassador and Guatemalan community and business leaders, as well as representatives from the United Nations and Ministry of Education.
“Our mission to simplify the wealth of our clients exists alongside our social mission to changes lives one school at a time,” said Schmidt. “As a team, we share a sense of purpose and fulfilment, which manifests in the work that we do with, and for, our clients each day. Our purpose goes beyond managing the wealth of our clients to helping them fulfill their aspirations to give back to society in a meaningful way.
“We believe that where the real magic happens is when you directly tie your business to humanity’s progress, and not just through writing a cheque,” he said, noting his family and another donor cover the operating cost, which also helps affluent, influential families become stronger global citizens.
Schmidt, who has been in the industry since 1992, started his firm in 1995, and now is working with 155 clients and their families plus local Guatemalan partners and its Ministry of Education. He now has 100 staff in Guatemala and is developing complex, multilateral global agreements with his field partners, the Canadian ambassador, and the United Nations, Telus International, Microsoft, and Guatemalan Ministry of Education so the education program can lead to full-time employment.
