Advisor Spotlight

Nick Proukou

Partner, Morgenstern DeVoesick Kroll Proukou PLLC

Involved with the Community Foundation since 2015

“Like vanishing dew, a passing apparition, or the sudden flash of lightning — already gone — thus should one regard one’s self.” — Ikkyū Sōjun, a 15th-century Japanese Zen Buddhist monk and poet.

It’s a fitting favorite quote for Nick, whose approach to both life and work is rooted in the understanding that our time here is fleeting. As an estate planning attorney, Nick helps people consider what they want to leave behind — not to preserve a piece of themselves, but to make life a little better for the people who come after them. 

That philosophy shapes the way Nick approaches charitable planning. Rather than beginning by asking clients which charities they want to include in their estate plans, he starts with open-ended questions about what matters most to them. Those discussions often reveal opportunities clients hadn’t considered and lead to more meaningful philanthropic plans. 

Nick is also passionate about helping clients give more efficiently. A will isn’t always the most advantageous place to incorporate charitable giving. For some clients, using beneficiary designations on traditional IRAs can simplify estate administration while reducing taxes, allowing more of their assets to support the causes they care about instead of going to the IRS. 

One of the moments Nick enjoys most is watching clients discover the flexibility available through the Community Foundation. Charitably-inclined clients often care about multiple causes.  Working with the Community Foundation can give them more flexibility than they initially realized was possible — including the ability to adapt their giving as their priorities evolve, and they learn more about community needs. 

He says, “I appreciate the client-friendly aspect of conversations with the Foundation. They explore the topics thoroughly and in a non-pressuring manner that allows the client to develop a very comfortable and long-term relationship.” 

Advice for Other Advisors 

Nick believes exceptional client service isn’t complicated — it simply requires consistency. 

He encourages advisors to begin every meeting with a simple question: “What’s on your mind coming into this meeting?” Giving clients space to lead the conversation often provides the insight needed to build stronger relationships and better planning strategies. 

His advice for new advisors is equally straightforward: “Show up, do what you say you are going to do in the time you say you’ll do it, and care about the end result. Do this over and over again and success is eventually unavoidable — even if it comes in a form you didn’t initially expect.” 

That commitment to learning his craft takes Nick each year to the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, where he has the opportunity to learn from people he describes as the “Michael Jordans” of trust, estate, and elder law. 

Nick believes community is, at its core, about people. 

“Treat people kindly as best you can on a daily basis,” he says. “My best varies day to day, but in the end, I try, and the aggregate goal is to simply add more positivity to the groups of people or communities in which you find yourself.” 

That philosophy extends beyond his practice. Nick has served on the board of Hope Hall, on the Professional Advisor Liaison Committee at the Community Foundation, and as the Chair of the MCBA Trusts and Estates Council. He is also a member of the local Estate Planning Council and Monroe County Bar Association, where he is frequently called upon to lead sessions for continuing education credits for peers.  

Parenthood has also deepened Nick’s connection to community. Raising his children, Levi and Lilah, has broadened his perspective and strengthened his desire to help make Brighton an even better place for children and families. 

When he’s not working with clients or giving back to his community, you’ll likely find Nick enjoying a backyard barbecue around a fire pit at home or at Black Lake. Sometimes, you’ll find him adding another fascinating piece to his collection of historical treasures, which includes a 30–35 million-year-old dinosaur skull, an ancient Greek coin, and multiple books printed more than 500 years ago.

Published September 2026