Apriem Core Values

Today, we closed the office early for Apriem Cares volunteer day stuffing JoyJars® to benefit the Jessie Rees Foundation. These JoyJars® are filled with many items that will bring a smile to the face of children fighting cancer.  We are able to serve as a team today and work to support the work of the Jessie Rees Foundation which extends to all 50 states and over 50 countries.   

In my almost 17 years with Apriem Advisors, this is one of my favorite aspects of our work: Apriem Cares. Apriem Cares stems from one of our core values that our Founding Principal, Harmon Kong has modeled since Apriem’s inception; generosity, being a good company also means doing good for others.

Harmon comes from a large family of seven where his father, who we call at Apriem as “Grandpa Kong,” was the sole provider as a teacher. He recalls the family did not have much yet would have large family picnics on the weekends at the parks on the island of Oahu, where his parents were born and raised. When it came time to eat, Grandpa Kong would invite everyone in the general vicinity to join the family for a meal. Asked, “Who are these people?”  and Grandpa Kong would answer, “Son, they are not strangers, but we must treat others like ‘Ohana,’” which means family in Hawaiian. 

This core value has carried through as a guiding principle at Apriem in the form of serving others, through our clients, our company culture, and our community.   At Apriem, it is more than just making money, it is about making a difference.  I find this refreshing and counterculture in today’s business world. In this article, I will be focusing on our community engagement program and some of the service opportunities we love to support.  

Through Apriem Cares, we have developed key relationships with organizations that are purposeful and align with our key outreach segments such as women, children, and education. Within these key segments, there are several service opportunities that stand out. Twelve years ago, I started volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters OC (BBBSOC) as a mentor to a 9 year-old “Little Sister,” Abbie who like me, lost her father at an early age. 12 years later, Abbie is now a sophomore in college, my husband and I are a “Big Couple” until she becomes 25 years old. Since the beginning, Apriem was there to support my service and relationship with Abbie. From providing a conference room for our study sessions to sponsoring our fundraisers, bringing Abbie to our “Bring Your Littles to Work Day”, having her join Apriem volunteer events, providing volunteer time off, and matching my financial contributions to BBBSOC.  

Years ago, we realized that in addition to sponsorships, fundraising, volunteer time, and pro-bono work – we can do more to help charitable organizations manage their resources and help support their long-term needs. This led to the creation of Apriem Charitable Services  that helps new and established charities manage their finances better.  We offer on a volunteer basis cash management and endowment services for local charities with funds under $1 million in investable assets. 

Just like Benjamin Franklin, we believe we all do well by doing good. We are stewards of client’s wealth, staff’s family welfare, and our community’s sustainability. I am blessed to be able to do all of them with Apriem. 

Jennifer Olson, CFA, CIPM, AIF®, CFP®
Vice President, Finance

Disclosures:

Apriem Advisors is not affiliated with these organizations. Their company name, logos, their staff, and representatives do not imply endorsement of Apriem Advisors.

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