Reinhart Shareholder Christine Rew Barden Achieves Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) Designation

MADISON – Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. (Reinhart) is proud to announce that Christine Rew Barden, a shareholder in the firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice and chair of its Family Office Services Group, has earned the esteemed Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP^®) designation from the American College of Financial Services.

To earn the CAP^® designation, Barden completed a rigorous curriculum culminating in six hours of closely monitored exams on three comprehensive courses. The materials covered a range of subjects, including strategic charitable giving, tax planning and the legal aspects of philanthropy. To complete the program, Barden had to pass a series of exams and adhere to strict ethical standards set by the American College of Financial Services.

“We congratulate Christine for earning the CAP^® designation," said Reinhart CEO Al Orr. “This distinction highlights the unique passion and dedication she brings to all that she does on behalf of her clients to allow them to realize their planning and philanthropic goals.”

As an attorney, advocate for her treasured Madison funding and chair of the Madison Community Foundation (MCF) Board of Governors, Barden participated in MCF’s CAP^® collaborative learning team. This experience allowed her to deepen her understanding of the CAP^® curriculum and explore how it could empower her clients to positively impact the local community, aligning with their overall personal and financial goals. Barden incorporates strategies for her clients to utilize philanthropic tools, including charitable trusts, private foundations, donor-advised funds and charitable gift annuities, into her estate planning practice.

Barden, based out of the firm’s Madison office, focuses her practice on working closely with individuals to plan for the ultimate disposition of wealth according to the goals and ambitions they have for their families and communities. Her extensive experience with the complex legal and deep emotional aspects of estate planning helps her provide clients with strategies that preserve family wealth and relationships across generations.

For some families, this requires the creation and utilization of a family office, which increases the complexity of managing their wealth. Barden regularly counsels these clients on the number of options available to them, assesses their specific needs and tailors solutions to meet the unique requirements of each family. Her practice also includes tax planning, advising tax-exempt organizations, succession planning and exit strategies, charitable contributions, Illinois law consultations, trust services and prenuptial/marital agreements. In addition, she assists high-net-worth families and those on a high-net-worth trajectory with estate planning.

"Earning the CAP^® designation has not only enhanced my skill set as an attorney but also deepened my commitment to serving as a trusted adviser to my clients and a steward of their estate legacies," said Barden. "I am profoundly honored to uphold this responsibility."

About The American College of Financial Services

Founded in 1927, The American College of Financial Services is the nation’s largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services professionals. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has educated over 200,000 professionals across the United States through certificate, designation, and graduate degree programs. Its portfolio of applied knowledge also includes just-in-time learning and consumer financial education programs. The College’s faculty represents some of the foremost thought leaders in the financial services industry.