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Unveiling the Todd and Lisa Halbrook Center for Investment and Wealth Management

January 24, 2024 • By The UCI Paul Merage School of Business

On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the UCI Paul Merage School of Business celebrated the naming of the Todd and Lisa Halbrook Center of Investment and Wealth Management.

The guests of honor, Todd and Lisa Halbrook, gathered with Dean Ian O. Williamson, Center faculty director Christopher Schwarz, and over 100 of their colleagues, friends and UCI faculty members to commemorate their transformational gift to the university.

In 2023, the Halbrooks committed $5 million to the Merage School's Center for Investment and Wealth Management, which for over a decade has provided innovative financial education programming to help empower more than 50,000 students to achieve financial success, both personally and professionally.

With their remarkable support, the now renamed Todd and Lisa Halbrook Center for Investment and Wealth Management guarantees to promote financial literacy for generations to come.

“It is extraordinary to have alumni who not only find success for themselves, but who then return to our school with a personal mission to ensure that the students who step into the classrooms after them succeed as well,” said Dean Williamson. “To say that Todd and Lisa are the epitome of what it means to be successful alumni is an understatement. Not only have they established themselves as professionals and community leaders, they have done so as visionaries for the Paul Merage School of Business. The ripple effect of their work and philanthropy will be felt for generations.”

 

A Celebration of Generosity

Guests gathered on the top floor of the Paul Merage School of Business to toast the Halbrook’s achievement and support the couple’s dedication to enriching their community.

During the evening’s program, Dean Williamson described the magnitude of Todd and Lisa’s commitment. “The Halbrooks are generous with their time on the Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB), with their resources as gracious alumni event hosts, with their vision through their recruitment of new DAB members, and their philanthropic generosity is monumental, as their gift to name the Todd and Lisa Halbrook Center for Investment and Wealth Management marks the beginning of a new era for our Center’s legacy.”

Professor Schwarz emphasized the couple’s passion for their causes, dedication to their work, and willingness to help others. “I can’t think of two better people to name the Center and support our mission,” he said. “I look forward to expanding what we do, impacting more students, growing our programming, and I look forward to doing all these things with Todd and Lisa.” The guests gave a round of applause when Professor Schwarz added, “I can’t thank you both enough for your generosity.”

 

Putting a Name to the Legacy

Both UCI alumni, Todd earned his Fully Employed MBA from the Merage School in 2005 while Lisa earned her undergraduate degree in 2008 and a Fully Employed MBA in 2014.

The couple has maintained a close connection to the university as members of the Dean's Advisory Board and through their ongoing commitment to supporting students, which includes establishing an endowed scholarship at the Merage School in 2019.

Currently, Todd works as a Managing Director and Financial Advisor for RBC Wealth Management – U.S. while Lisa champions their family through the success and wellbeing of their 7-year-old son, Alex, and by upholding their philanthropic priorities.

Standing at the front of the room, looking out at the faces of their family, friends and colleagues, Lisa said, “On behalf of Todd and myself, we want to say thank you so much to every single one of you. We are very fortunate that our path has led us to this moment, and it means so much to share it with you all.” Todd added, “Our friendships mean I lot to us. I want to thank my clients, our friends, my business partner, Adam MacDonald, Royal Bank of Canada, and my wife, Lisa. Without her support I wouldn’t be here today.”

Dean Williamson and Professor Schwarz stood alongside the couple for the unveiling of “The Todd and Lisa Halbrook Center for Investment and Wealth Management” plaque. “Thank you for your partnership and selfless commitment to the students you have yet to meet but who you will come to know as part of your legacy,” said the Dean.

The crowd raised their glasses in a toast to Todd and Lisa, and to the students who will earn a world-class financial education at the Center, therefore investing in themselves, their businesses, and their communities.