The New Standard for Advisor-Led Philanthropy
Foundation Copilot removes the complexity from charitable planning — giving financial advisors the technology, expertise, and infrastructure to lead every philanthropic conversation with confidence.
Foundation Copilot — Overview
Charitable Planning Is the Most Underserved Conversation in Finance
High-net-worth clients are increasingly driven by legacy and impact — yet most advisors lack the tools, expertise, and infrastructure to lead those conversations. The result: clients turn elsewhere, and advisors lose both assets and relationships.
of HNW clients want to discuss charitable giving with their advisor
Source: U.S. Trust Study of the Philanthropic Conversation
higher retention rate for clients who discuss philanthropy with their advisor
Advisors who lead philanthropic conversations deepen relationships
in wealth expected to transfer to the next generation by 2045
The Great Wealth Transfer creates unprecedented philanthropic opportunity
How Do You Currently Handle Charitable Planning?
Foundation Copilot: Your Philanthropic Command Center
Foundation Copilot is a full-service philanthropic platform that gives advisors the technology, expertise, and administration to serve clients at every stage of their charitable journey — from launching a private foundation to structuring complex planned gifts.
Deep Expertise
In-house tax and legal professionals, philanthropic advisory specialists, and grantmaking support
Purpose-Built Technology
Applications engineered for philanthropic workflows, compliance, and real-time reporting
Operational Efficiency
Outsourcing administration lowers costs, reduces staffing needs, and enhances fiduciary services
Foundation Copilot — Philanthropic Services
"We remove complexity from philanthropy for donors, nonprofit partners, and advisors — so that every client's charitable vision becomes a living legacy."
— FOUNDATION COPILOT PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES
The BuyLine — standing firm when markets storm
The HCM BuyLine®
Created after the losses of Black Monday in 1987, the HCM BuyLine® is a proprietary, math-based indicator designed to identify macro trends in global markets. It uses a disciplined, quantitative methodology — not subjective forecasting — to determine when portfolios should be in or out of the market.
When the market drops below the BuyLine threshold, the system signals a shift toward cash or bonds. When strength returns, it signals re-entry. The goal is to reduce exposure during significant declines and participate during sustained advances.
"In an effort to help advisors and their clients navigate complex market conditions, I developed the HCM BuyLine® trend indicator to remove emotion and mathematically strive to minimize downside risk while seeking upside potential."
Jan 2020 – Dec 2024
Jan 2020 – Dec 2024
Net of 2.2% annual fee*
The HCM BuyLine® — How It Works
Click a Market Event to See How the BuyLine Responded
2008 — Financial Crisis
The global financial crisis saw the S&P 500 lose over 56% of its value. The HCM BuyLine® signaled an exit from equity markets as the macro trend deteriorated, allowing many clients to preserve capital and stem losses even during one of the most significant downturns in modern financial history.
MARKET IMPACT
S&P 500 fell ~56%
BUYLINE® RESPONSE
BuyLine signaled equity exit — capital preserved
*Past performance does not guarantee future results. There can be no guarantee the HCM BuyLine® will perform as anticipated.
See the Difference for Your Client's Balance
This interactive tool illustrates the historical performance difference between January 2020 and December 2024. Enter a hypothetical starting balance to see how the strategies compared during this specific period.
This is a hypothetical illustration based on past performance. It does not predict, project, or guarantee future results. Your actual experience will differ.
27% cumulative return (Jan 2020–Dec 2024)
5% S&P 500 / 75% HFRX Equity Hedge / 20% Bloomberg US Agg Bond TR
Hypothetical difference between strategies during this period
86% cumulative return, net of fees*
Jan 2020–Dec 2024
*Performance shown reflects the HCM ALP Growth Composite, net of the highest advisory fee tier of 2.2% annually, paid monthly. Returns are GIPS-verified and independently verified for the period January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2024. The HCM Custom Blended Benchmark is comprised of 5% S&P 500 Monthly Reinvested Index, 75% HFRX Equity Hedge Index, and 20% Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond TR Index, calculated and rebalanced monthly. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal. The results shown are hypothetical illustrations and do not represent the experience of any specific investor. Source: Howard Capital Management, Inc. ALP Growth GIPS Composite Report.
Are Your Clients Prepared for the Next Market Downturn?
In today's financial climate, you want to be an innovative and knowledgeable advisor. Howard Capital Management believes you deserve a defined plan aimed to maximize gains and minimize losses — while also helping your clients build a lasting legacy through strategic philanthropy.
The combination of Foundation Copilot's philanthropic infrastructure and HCM's investment methodology creates a uniquely powerful value proposition for advisors serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients.
Advisor Partnership — Howard Capital Management
The Complete HCM Advisor Toolkit
HCM Portfolios
Tactically managed portfolios powered by the HCM BuyLine® — seeking growth while defending capital across market cycles.
Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts
SDBA models invest in HCM Mutual Funds, giving retirement plan participants access to the BuyLine® inside their 401(k).
401(k) Optimizer®
Help clients allocate their company-sponsored retirement plan with HCM's proprietary optimization tool.
TSP Optimizer®
Purpose-built for federal employees — optimize Thrift Savings Plan allocations with HCM's systematic methodology.
HCM-Guided Retirement®
Strategically optimize participant investments to better fulfill fiduciary responsibilities in plan management.
Private Wealth Services
Custom investment strategies for HNW clients — tax-loss harvesting, estate planning, charitable giving integration, and BuyLine® overlay.
How We Work Together
Discover
Connect with an HCM wholesaler in your area. We learn about you, your goals, and your practice — understanding the unique needs of your client base before recommending any solution.
Strategize
Work alongside your dedicated HCM wholesaler to select the best-suited HCM products and Foundation Copilot services for your clients. Every recommendation is tailored to your practice.
Partner
Partner with HCM to onboard your clients and implement the designated strategies. Your dedicated client service representative ensures a seamless experience from day one.
Key Partner Benefits
Tailored Strategies for Your Most Valuable Clients
HCM Private Wealth Services was created by Vance Howard out of personal need — the recognition that high-net-worth individuals require more than off-the-shelf portfolio management. PWS delivers custom investment strategies, tax mitigation, income planning, business succession, and legacy design — all with the HCM BuyLine® overlaid for downside protection.
Tax-Loss Harvesting
Offset capital gains with capital losses to optimize after-tax returns
Custom Portfolio Design
One-to-one discovery, design, and implementation for each client situation
Estate + Charitable Giving
Optimize estate plan design and align with clients' philanthropic visions
Business Planning
Enhance bottom line, succession planning, and legacy goal alignment
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Objections — Defused
Click any question to see the answer.
Foundation Copilot is a philanthropic services platform by Howard Capital Management that removes complexity from philanthropy for donors, nonprofits, and financial advisors. It provides technology, expertise, and administration for private foundations, planned giving programs, and enterprise-level donor-advised fund solutions — all under one roof.
Foundation Copilot can have a new private foundation up and running in as few as three business days. The platform handles the entire setup process, from legal structuring to compliance configuration, so advisors can focus on the client relationship rather than administrative complexity.
The HCM BuyLine® is a proprietary, math-based quantitative indicator developed by Vance Howard after the losses of Black Monday in 1987. It identifies macro trends in global markets using a disciplined, non-emotional methodology. When the market drops below the BuyLine threshold, it signals a shift toward cash or bonds. When strength returns, it signals re-entry. The goal is to reduce exposure during significant declines while participating during sustained advances. There can be no guarantee the BuyLine will perform as anticipated.
Foundation Copilot offers two enterprise models: a Back-Office Support model where they provide full administration, compliance, and tax filing under your private label; and a Turnkey Solution that delivers white-glove service with preferred pricing for HNW and UHNW clients. Both models are designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing advisory practice.
Foundation Copilot supports private foundations (new and existing), donor-advised funds, and a comprehensive suite of planned giving vehicles including charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), charitable lead trusts (CLTs), charitable gift annuities (CGAs), and bequest programs. Each vehicle is supported by purpose-built technology, expert administration, and compliance oversight.
Advisors add value by becoming the trusted orchestrator of their clients' complete financial and philanthropic lives. By leveraging Foundation Copilot's expertise alongside HCM's investment tools — including the BuyLine®, tactically managed portfolios, and private wealth services — advisors can deepen relationships, increase AUM, reduce client attrition, and differentiate their practice in a crowded marketplace.
Schedule Your Free Strategy Session
A complimentary 30-minute session to explore how Foundation Copilot and the HCM BuyLine® can transform your practice — and your clients' legacies.