Community Square, which the firm launched in March 2012, is a collaborative forum and educational resource for Threshold clients and colleagues. The “peer-driven” environment provides a platform for families to connect with experts in areas such as parenting, philanthropy and investing.

The concept of establishing forums for like-minded investors has gained ground in recent time, as more and more firms and advisors realize the importance of addressing the softer elements of wealth management such as education, communication and the cross-pollination of ideas on a range of topics. Tiger 21 is a good example of this (see more here).

In expanding Community Square, Threshold has promoted client advisor and relationship manager, Kristen Bauer, to executive director of the network. Bauer spearheaded the launch of Community Square and also serves as senior managing director – western division.

Meanwhile, Katrin Dietz has been promoted to operations manager, having previously served as executive assistant at the firm. Earlier in her career, Dietz was a client service assistant at Russell Investments, among other management roles.

Lastly, Kate Donnelly has joined the firm as a wealth advisor and director with Community Square. Threshold said Donnelly is charged with developing educational events and resources, as well as managing “connections and opportunities” for participants of the peer network.

Donnelly is latterly of Laird Norton Wealth Management, where she was a senior client analyst. In her prior role, she worked with high net worth families in the areas of financial planning and investing. Donnelly also once partnered with The Seattle Foundation in launching a team to deliver an annual financial and philanthropic planning workshop for teenagers. 

“For many families of affluence, the toughest challenges today are less about wealth and more about well-being,” said Ed Lazar, president of Threshold Group. “Sometimes the conversation between families in a non-threatening environment is where the real learning develops.”

“Our clients learn from one another; advisory organizations learn from one another; families learn from experts, and in return, experts learn from families,” added Bauer.

The Community Square is an extension of other client-networking programs that have been under way at the firm, such as The Parenting Community (view here.)

Threshold said it will be hosting a number of Community Square events in Seattle, WA, Philadelphia, PA, and Portland, OR, in 2014. The group has around 50 family clients in 35 states; offices in Gig Harbor, WA, Philadelphia, Portland and Seattle; and nearly $2.5 billion in assets.