For Roberto Espinosa, a local wealth management advisor, Hispanic Heritage Month is more than a celebration – it is a time to reflect how his Mexican heritage informs his profession. As the founder and CEO of Avante Wealth, he applies those values by guiding families in ways that build community and amplify impact, often in partnership with the San Antonio Area Foundation.
Born in Mexico City, Espinosa moved to San Antonio nearly three decades ago at 31 after experiencing a life-altering elevator accident that reshaped the course of his career. In 2002, a routine step into a service elevator turned into a three-story plunge, leaving him with severe injuries and an urgent reminder of life’s fragility.
Following the accident, he left the restaurant business he co-owned at the time and began charting a new path — one centered on financial planning and stewardship.
Soon after his move to the United States, Espinosa quickly noticed how differently philanthropy is practiced north of the border: Here, giving often seemed to extend beyond writing a check to include sharing time, talent and leadership within the community. That realization led Espinosa to pursue the “Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy” designation from the American College of Financial Services, a professional certification for financial advisors who specialize in helping individuals achieve their charitable giving goals. He also wanted to become more deeply engaged in San Antonio’s nonprofit community. Along that journey, Espinosa said he found a natural partner in the Area Foundation.
“In San Antonio, the Area Foundation shines above and beyond, because they do a great job making sure that they help all the nonprofits in the community,” Espinosa said. “I became connected to the Area Foundation through my curiosity in local philanthropy, but I stayed based on the people.”
Over the years, Espinosa has introduced clients to donor-advised funds, guided families weighing whether to create private foundations and collaborated with peers to understand best practices in endowments and giving strategies. He credits the Area Foundation with not only equipping advisors like himself with technical knowledge but also building connections between clients and nonprofits so gifts can have the greatest impact.
Espinosa said his work goes far beyond crunching numbers in an Excel document; his focus is on listening carefully to clients’ stories, educating them about their options, and helping them make decisions that not only serve immediate financial needs but also align with their long-term values. For him, true success means creating strategies that support families across generations while making a lasting impact on the broader community.
The Area Foundation’s growing engagement with professional advisors mirrors his philosophy — collaboration helps overcome hesitation among some in the field who worry about “losing” clients by partnering. Instead, he views the Area Foundation as an extension of fiduciary duty, ensuring families are connected to the right strategies and organizations to fulfill their philanthropic goals.
At home, Espinosa and his wife have raised their son and daughter to be bilingual and proud of their Hispanic roots, reinforcing the idea that heritage is both a source of identity and a framework for giving back. He recalls his involvement while living in Mexico in bringing the Torch of Friendship sculpture to downtown San Antonio as a gesture of gratitude from the Mexican community. With two distinct pillars that rise and twist until they meet at the top, the torch is a symbol, he said, of how cultures, advisors, families and nonprofits can stand stronger together.
As Hispanic Heritage Month unfolds in San Antonio with a plethora of celebratory events, Espinosa’s story reflects both the values of his heritage and the mission of the Area Foundation: to strengthen San Antonio through generosity, stewardship and connection. His guiding principle is simple yet enduring: “Do well by doing good in our community.”
Are you a professional advisor or do you know one who may benefit from partnering with the Area Foundation like Roberto Espinosa to help fulfill clients’ goals in giving back to the community? Learn more about our work and reach out to us to discuss!
Lindsey Carnett is a member of the San Antonio Area Foundation Marketing & Communications Storytelling Ambassador Network.
