When Jake Nuno thinks about “family,” he thinks about legacy. About parents who want their children to understand not just what they are inheriting, but why. About the quiet, meaningful conversations where values are named, stories are shared, and generosity becomes part of a family’s identity.
And that perspective has shaped Nuno’s work as a professional advisor
“As the great wealth transfer accelerates, I see philanthropy as the bridge that turns values into action and gives rising-generation heirs a meaningful role in stewardship,” Nuno said. A certified private wealth advisor (CPWA®), Nuno translates complex strategies into practical language to help families make values-driven choices together.
That spirit of thoughtful planning is now helping shape the future of philanthropy in Greater San Antonio. Nuno is one of 16 professionals selected to serve on the San Antonio Area Foundation’s inaugural Professional Advisor Council (PAC).
“On the Council, my goal is to help make charitable planning more accessible for all families and to support the Area Foundation in reaching the next generation of philanthropic leaders,” Nuno said.
A Leadership Network for Strategic Philanthropy
The inaugural Area Foundation Professional Advisor Council includes 16 respected professionals from across the advisory landscape:
- Hayley Almaraz, CPA, Partner, ATKG Advisors, LLC
- Ashley Brand, CPA, Partner, ADKF, PC
- Adam Carr, Community Bank President, First United Bank
- Katherine E. “Katy” David, JD, Attorney, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
- Erica Gay, JD, Vice President and Trust Officer, Jefferson Bank
- Alex Ireta, CFP®, Chief Operating Officer & Certified Financial Planner, SWBC
- Angela C. Melchor, CFP®, Financial Advisor, PNC Wealth Management
- Catherine A. Morrison, CFP®, Founding Partner and Senior Vice President, Conservant Capital of Conservant Financial
- Gregg Muenster, PhD, Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Sendero Family Enterprise
- Linde Murphy, CRCP™, President, M.E. Allison & Co., Inc.
- Selena Neptune, CPA, Tax Manager, Forvis Mazars, LLP
- Jake Nuno, MS, CFP®, CPWA®, EA, Financial Planner, i•financial
- Kim Pruett, CPA, Tax Director, the KFORDgroup
- Whitney Solcher, CFA®, Partner, Chief Investment Officer, and Senior Advisor, Ulrich Investment Consultants
- Charles Weisinger, JD, AEP®, President and Managing Attorney, Weisinger Law Firm, PLLC
- David White, JD, LL.M., CPA, CPA & Attorney, Porter, Rodgers, Dahlman & Gordon, PC
These attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, wealth managers, and trust officers guide individuals and families through complex estate, tax, and charitable decisions. Advisors influence how gifts are structured, when they are deployed, and how long they endure.
By creating space for collaboration and shared learning, the PAC helps align charitable planning with local needs and long-term community outcomes. Members will gather in a structured forum to exchange insight, explore emerging trends, and strengthen how charitable capital supports a culture of philanthropy across San Antonio and the surrounding region.
“The council represents a strategic investment in our community’s philanthropic infrastructure,” said Lisa Brunsvold, Chief Development Officer at the Area Foundation. “Professional advisors help shape some of the most significant philanthropic decisions in our region, and when we engage that expertise collectively, we strengthen the outcomes these investments create for nonprofits and the families they serve.”
Building Community Through the Council
The PAC will meet from April through October annually, with additional optional working groups focused on education, outreach, and community engagement. Meetings include peer-to-peer dialogue, case study discussions, and opportunities to connect directly with nonprofit leaders.
The goal? Practical, meaningful collaboration. Members share what they are seeing in their work; the Area Foundation shares insight on emerging community needs and charitable tools. Together, they identify ways to strengthen client-centered planning while supporting a resilient nonprofit sector.
David Simmons, Wealth Advisor Relations Manager for the Area Foundation, works closely with council members to guide these conversations and ensure the dialogue remains relevant and forward-looking.
“We want the council to be a space where advisors can learn from one another and contribute to something larger than any one practice,” Simmons said. “The stronger our collaboration, the stronger the philanthropic outcomes for San Antonio.”
Looking Ahead
For council members, participation is professional and deeply personal.
Ashley Brand, certified public accountant (CPA) and Partner at ADKF, PC, brings a perspective grounded in daily work with individuals, families, and businesses navigating complex tax and estate decisions. In that work, philanthropy is never abstract.
“I regularly guide clients through complex planning, and I see firsthand how intentional charitable strategies can transform both donors’ legacies and the nonprofits they support,” Brand said. “I’m especially drawn to the collaborative nature of the council and the opportunity to help shape tools and strategies that strengthen charitable planning across our region.”
For Nuno, the council is about preparing the next generation to steward wealth with clarity and purpose. For Brand, it is about deepening the effectiveness of charitable strategies already taking shape in client conversations every day.
And together, all PAC members are helping ensure that generosity across the San Antonio region remains thoughtful, inclusive, and built for the future.
Interested in learning more about the Professional Advisor Council or in partnering with the San Antonio Area Foundation to help your clients give strategically, efficiently, and meaningfully? Contact David Simmons at dsimmons@saafdn.org or 404–964-1785.
