PLANTATION, Florida—Northstar Financial Planners announced today that firm President Allen Giese and wife Gayle Giese are recipients of this year’s EPIC Award, presented by Mental Health of America of Southeast Florida.

EPIC stands for Exceptional People Impacting the Community and honors community members who make a positive contribution to the mental wellness of others. The awards lunch will be held May 8 at the Signature Grand in Davie.

Allen Giese said he and Gayle are humbled to receive an EPIC Award.

“As a family, we have seen the impact that mental illness can have,” he said. “We’ve also seen how few resources there are for families coping with mental health issues. We’ve been working to both support and inform families.”

In late 2018, Allen published When Mental Illness Strikes: Crisis Intervention for the Financial Plan, chronicling his family’s financial struggle following his son’s diagnosis. Allen and Gayle scrambled to take care of their son’s present and future concerns while meeting their own financial needs, including retirement.

“Too often, parents sacrifice their retirement. It’s natural, really, because parents want to protect their children,” he said. “That’s why I wrote this book—to give parents information and resources to create a financial plan that takes care of the entire family’s needs.”

Allen has been a financial advisor since 1991, providing wealth management services to families, couples, and individuals. He is the founding partner and President of Northstar Financial Planners, a fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor in Plantation, Florida. His certifications include the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designations. Gayle is the Chair of the NAMI Advocacy Group.

He and Gayle Giese are committed to advocacy and are active in the mental health community. An adventure cyclist, Allen’s advocacy efforts include a cross-country bicycle trip to raise awareness and funds for mental health charities.

The 23rd annual EPIC Awards luncheon will be held:

Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84, Davie, FL 33317

Tickets and sponsorships are available online at https://www.mhasefl.org/save-the-date.html. For information about the awards, call the Mental Health America office at 954-746-2055.

To reach Allen Giese, call 954-693-0030 or email allen@northstarplanners.com.