Meet Dr. Gina Gaudio-Grace, the visionary Founder and CEO of Abundance Group Trust, a distinguished individual whose journey seamlessly blends legal expertise with an entrepreneurial spirit. A graduate of Notre Dame Law School, where she held the esteemed position of Lead Note Editor at the Notre Dame Law Review in 1991, Dr. Gina has traversed a remarkable career path, transitioning from a successful legal profession to a seasoned entrepreneur.
With a profound commitment to continuous learning, Dr. Gina earned her PhD in Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy, accumulating over two decades of invaluable experience. Her extensive skill set includes certifications as a Wealth Management Specialist, Tax Planner, Tax Coach, and a Licensed Document Preparer. Beyond her professional accolades, Dr. Gina is the driving force behind Abundance Group Trust and serves as the Co-Founder of the Abundance For All Foundation.
At the heart of Dr. Gina’s mission is a deep-seated desire to impact the lives of individuals worldwide in a meaningful way. This commitment extends beyond her professional endeavors, reflecting in her dedication to teaching entrepreneurs and small business owners a philosophy of “serve and strategically monetize.” Dr. Gina emphasizes the creation of win-win scenarios, guiding for-profit businesses to establish non-profit arms that amplify their positive impact on society.
For over two decades, Dr. Gina has championed the ethos that doing good and financial success are not mutually exclusive. Through her teachings and guidance, she empowers business owners to align their prosperity with the betterment of the communities they serve. Since 2005, her personal mission has been to touch the life of every person on the planet in a meaningful way, recognizing that this lofty goal can be achieved collaboratively.
An Inspirational Journey
Dr. Gina’s entrepreneurial journey began in the fifth grade when she opened her first business, a babysitting service managed by neighborhood girls wearing her tie-dye shirts. Despite not being the babysitter, she orchestrated appointments, collected payments, and handled the team. This early taste of entrepreneurship set the stage for a lifetime of business ventures.
In the third grade, Dr. Gina decided to pursue law school, driven by her passion for teaching and a desire for financial stability. After graduating from Notre Dame in 1991 and serving on the law review, her dream of becoming a law school professor took an unexpected turn due to a car accident. Forced to find alternative paths, she started her first business, a Day Trading membership site, followed by a venture into internet advertising.
Dr. Gina’s journey took a dramatic turn when she faced a life-threatening health crisis, needing over $40,000 a month for medication. Determined to secure her financial future, Dr. Gina became a joint venture broker, connecting product and service owners with those possessing large lists and substantial traffic. While successful, she felt the unpredictability of income was too risky, leading her to research successful business patterns.
In 2005, facing a terminal prognosis, Dr. Gina embarked on a cross-country journey with her husband in an RV. Despite being clinically dead according to multiple blood tests, a chance encounter with a massage therapist in Sedona, Arizona, led to a miraculous transformation. She went from a wheelchair to walking independently, stopped taking numerous medications, and regained her health.
This life-altering experience prompted Dr. Gina to reevaluate her priorities. Closing her brokering business, she opened Directions University in pursuit of a mission to positively impact every person on the planet. In 2016, a personal setback unfolded with her husband filing for divorce. Forced to find a new direction, she joined a company offering asset protection and tax mitigation trusts.
Recognizing room for improvement in the existing systems, Dr. Gina designed a trust that prioritized client satisfaction. In January 2021, she founded Abundance Group Trust, a venture that now serves over 600 clients. Despite enduring over fifty operations during a challenging ten-year period, she persevered, propelled by a commitment to serving others and a deep appreciation for her husband’s unwavering support.
The Trust
Abundance Group Trusts provides ironclad asset protection, massive tax mitigation, and legacy to its clients. Clients appreciate deferring taxes on capital gains and passive income, including intellectual property income. Clients can protect their assets in case of a judgment, lien, or levy while at the same time, transferring wealth to future generations without concerns of probate or any future inheritance taxes.
Power of Leverage
Dr. Gina underscores the need for empathy, creative thinking, and leveraging in financial services. As a disabled woman, she relies on leverage to navigate life and business efficiently. Driven by the desire for others to understand the power of leverage, she encourages thinking outside the box for unconventional financial solutions that bridge gaps effectively. Leveraging, in her view, is about finding the most efficient and impactful way to reach desired outcomes, enabling exponential growth with minimal effort and time.
Balancing Leadership and Joy
Dr. Gina’s daily joy comes from her morning practice involving visualizations, gratitude, and reading. As CEO of Abundance Group Trust, her focus is on maintaining an excellent client experience. Prioritizing clients, motivating the team, and emphasizing their collective commitment during corporate calls are crucial for success. Training the team aligns with the philosophy that strategic service to clients takes precedence over financial gains. The overarching principle is to over-serve clients, ensuring their needs are met before any other considerations.
Unique Approach to Team Building
Growing the team at Abundance Group Trust has been an interesting journey for Dr. Gina. Notably, the majority of team members, barring two exceptions, began as Trust clients before joining the team. Dr. Gina prioritizes team members who embody the principles they advocate for clients – individuals who genuinely use the trust in their own lives, either personally or in both life and business.
A fundamental criterion for team selection is a servant’s heart. Dr. Gina seeks individuals motivated by a genuine desire to serve clients rather than being solely driven by financial incentives. While technical skills can be taught, the foundational commitment to utilizing the trust in their lives and having a genuine servant’s mindset are non-negotiable prerequisites.
Innovative Client Services in the Digital Era
According to Dr. Gina, when Abundance Group Trust initially launched, the creation of trusts was a manual process. However, significant advancements have occurred, and the process is now fully automated. This level of automation enables the filing of copyrights for the trusts, with a provisional patent application in progress to protect these innovations.
To enhance client services, Abundance Group Trust has transitioned to the Salesforce Financial Services Cloud. This move has facilitated the development of a sophisticated client services portal incorporating artificial intelligence (AI). Through this portal, clients gain access to a wealth of information with AI-driven search capabilities, allowing them to navigate and retrieve relevant content from a vast library comprising thousands of hours of materials.
Beyond Conventions
Opening the doors to Abundance Group Trust marked a significant and daring step for Dr. Gina, representing the most substantial risk taken thus far. What sets Abundance Group Trust apart is the absence of marketing or advertising efforts in its three years of existence. Despite this, the company has achieved remarkable success, generating millions of dollars in sales annually purely through word of mouth.
This unique approach underscores the exceptional value and positive experiences that clients and partners have had with Abundance Group Trust. The reliance on word of mouth for both client acquisition and referral partnerships is a testament to the trust, satisfaction, and effectiveness that Dr. Gina and her team have instilled in their services.
Harmony in Growth
Dr. Gina’s quest for expansion extends beyond the area of business, encompassing a continuous journey of personal and professional growth. Her commitment to staying at the forefront of knowledge in trusts and foundations reflects a dedication to providing the best services for her company and clients. The belief in the symbiotic relationship between personal and professional development is a guiding principle for Dr. Gina.
In an ever-evolving landscape, Dr. Gina recognizes the importance of adaptability and continuous learning. This approach not only enriches her expertise in trusts and foundations but also positions her as a dynamic leader capable of navigating the complexities of the industry.
Observing shifts in values among the younger generation, Dr. Gina notes a desire for the easy route and a perceived self-centeredness. Despite these observations, she remains steadfast in her belief that putting the needs of others first and fostering a focus on serving others can lead to unparalleled success. Driven by a philosophy that anything is possible when guided by altruism, she seeks to instill these values in a generation that may not fully grasp the profound impact of prioritizing the needs of others.
Dr. Gina’s dual commitment to personal and professional growth, coupled with her advocacy for a values-driven approach, underscores her holistic approach to leadership. Through her example and dedication, she aims to inspire not only business success but also a positive shift in perspectives and values, fostering a culture of service and collective achievement.
Global Horizons and Enduring Legacies
Dr. Gina envisions a future for Abundance Group Trust that transcends borders, with the team diligently working on an International Trust. This innovative trust will operate in approximately sixteen different countries, providing ironclad asset protection and significant tax mitigation. Driven by a passion to reach a global audience, the new trust is designed to cater to individuals in various countries, leveraging tax treaties with the United States to offer international clients unprecedented benefits.
Previously focused primarily on serving clients within the United States, Abundance Group Trust is expanding its horizons. Dr. Gina is enthusiastic about extending its reach beyond the U.S., exploring opportunities in Canada, Australia, the UK, and beyond. The vision is to offer the unique benefits of the trust to businesses worldwide, tapping into a broader market interested in the advantages Abundance Group Trust provides.
In addition to the International Trust, the team is working on a distinctive form of Deferred Compensation Trust tied to a Foundation. This innovative approach allows executives with W-2 income to defer taxes by placing some of their earnings into a trust, ensuring they only pay taxes when funds are withdrawn. Furthermore, a groundbreaking initiative involves allowing individuals to roll over qualified retirement accounts, such as IRAs or 401(k)s, into a deferred compensation trust connected to their foundation. This strategy aims to provide significant growth opportunities for the funds compared to traditional qualified retirement accounts.
Excitingly, both the International Trust and the Deferred Compensation Trust are set to be launched in the first quarter of 2024. Dr. Gina emphasizes that these trusts are a form of Dynasty trust, persisting beyond an individual’s lifetime, serving future generations of heirs. Recognizing the long-term sustainability of Abundance Group Trust, Dr. Gina is establishing a scholarship in her name. This scholarship will support law, MBA, and finance or accounting students, providing them an opportunity to work with the company during their college years. This initiative not only fosters talent but ensures a pool of skilled individuals who may eventually contribute to the company’s leadership.
By setting up this scholarship and planning for the future, Dr. Gina ensures that Abundance Group Trust will endure across generations. Whether led by her nephew, Ben Ford, the current president, or future leaders, the company aims to maintain its commitment to clients and innovative financial solutions for years to come.
