Helping Generosity Go Further with Barb Miller
Helping people plan for the future is more than mere finances for Barb Miller. It is about legacy.
Miller, an Associate Financial Advisor and South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) Key Club member, based in Hot Springs, works closely with individuals and families to help them align their financial plans with what matters most to them. That often includes thoughtful conversations about charitable giving.
“I’ve been a financial advisor now going on 45 years this summer,” Miller said. “It’s been very rewarding getting to know people on a more immediate basis.”
SDCF’s Key Club recognizes and thanks professional advisors who have inspired their clients to give back and improve the lives of their fellow South Dakotans. Earning the trust of donors and partnering with SDCF staff, these advisors promote philanthropy through legacy building.
Miller recently joined SDCF Director for Foundation Relations, Beth Massa, to share how she helps clients connect their financial plans with the causes and communities they care about.
Starting the Conversation
In Miller’s work, financial planning often opens the door to deeper discussions about values and legacy.
“We talk about family a lot,” she said. “But we also talk about what you want people to remember you by. Is there a way for you to share what you’ve done in your life with others?”
For some clients, those conversations come naturally. Others have never considered charitable giving before. Miller approaches those discussions by first learning about what matters to them.
“We try to find out if they want to support initiatives like education, museums, community projects or veterans,” she said. “You just try to get to know them.”
Sometimes clients are unsure where their assets should go, especially if they do not have close family members.
“They feel better knowing that their savings will end up doing some good in the community, rather than going to someone they have very little connection with,” Miller said.
A Simple Strategy for Giving
One of the tools Miller often discusses with clients involves their Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
Many retirees are required to withdraw funds from these accounts each year through Required Minimum Distributions. Through a Qualified Charitable Distribution, those funds can be directed to a nonprofit organization instead.
“Most people who have saved in their IRAs don’t need it,” Miller explained. “If they are already giving to charity, I encourage them by saying, ‘You’ve been giving from your checkbook. Let me take it out of a different pocket for you.’”
For many clients, that small shift opens the door to greater generosity.
“People who maybe only gave $100 or $200 suddenly start thinking bigger,” she said. “They realize they can do more good.”
Creating a Lasting Impact
Through her work with SDCF and the Fall River County Community Foundation, Miller has helped many clients turn their charitable goals into lasting community impact.
In the early years, gifts were often modest.
“We started with small gifts,” she said. “Maybe someone had an IRA they didn’t want to leave to distant relatives. So they gave $15,000 or $30,000 to the foundation.”
Over time, those gifts grew. Today, the First Interstate Bank Fall River Fund holds approximately $1.4 million and distributes grants each year to support local needs.
For Miller, one of the most rewarding parts of the work is seeing the long-term impact.
“I helped set up several scholarship funds 15 or 20 years ago,” she said. “It’s great to go to the high school awards night and see those scholarships still helping students. It just keeps going.”
Stories That Keep on Giving
Some of the most meaningful examples come from donors whose generosity continues to shape their communities long after they are gone.
Miller recalled one couple who worked modest jobs at the local VA hospital. Their quiet lifestyle did not reveal the significant savings they had accumulated.
When reviewing their plans, the couple decided their estate could do more good if shared.
“We left a scholarship through their church for health care workers and more than $600,000 to the Fall River Foundation,” Miller said.
Those gifts will continue supporting the community for generations.
“It’s amazing to see a gift go out and do a lot of good in the community and in a lot of different places,” she said.
A tradition of Philanthropy
Philanthropy is both professional and personal for Miller. She and her family support causes locally and around the world, and she hopes that the spirit of generosity continues to be shaped through future generations.
“I feel like I’ve been very blessed and fortunate,” she said. “It just feels good to share with those in need, whether they’re close to home or around the world.”
Through thoughtful planning and meaningful conversations, Miller continues helping donors transform their generosity into lasting impact.
For communities like Hot Springs, Edgemont and Fall River County, those conversations are helping create stronger futures for generations to come.