The firm, based in Ruston, Louisiana, is building a donor-advised funds business.

Argent Financial Group, the US wealth manager, has formed a public charity to run donor-advised funds. 

Argent Foundation will be run by recently-promoted Blair Hull, holding the post of president, it said in a statement earlier this week.

Under the new organization, clients may choose from one of seven investment pools administered under the stewardship of Argent Financial Group. Donors can also gain access to Argent’s team of compliance, governance and charitable-giving specialists.

“A donor-advised fund is an ideal, tax-efficient strategy that takes considerably less effort to manage than a personal foundation or charity, so our clients have more time to help worthy organizations,” Donald H LeBlanc, Jr, executive vice president for Argent, said. (His comments allude to a debate that continues about the pros and cons of DAFs versus private foundations, although much depends on the circumstances of individuals and families.)

Hull has served as an associate of philanthropic services for Argent Trust. Prior to joining Argent, she worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Washington, DC, as an auditor in the company’s Federal Advisory Practice division. Hull holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi.