Lon Magness is a Principal of Reliant Investment Management. At work, Lon’s responsibilities include portfolio management, investment strategy, regulatory compliance and client relations. He also serves as the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer.
A member of Second since 1998, he and his wife Ragan have three children, Natalie, Meredith, and Mac. He is a current member of the Foundation Board of Directors and is Chairman of its Investment Committee. He has served for many years on the Investment Committee, becoming its Chair in 2011-12.
The Investment Committee recommends the Investment Policy for approval by the Foundation Board and provides direct oversight of the implementation of the policy and of the investment management company that is hired by the Board. Lon is responsible for regular reporting to the Board on all investment related activities. Here are his responses to questions asked of him.
Q. Why did you get involved with the Foundation?
I got involved initially when our CC wanted to thank one of our former teachers. We took up a collection and made a gift to the Foundation in his honor, in hopes that it could be a small addition to the ministry efforts that he had emphasized to us. Later I was asked to serve on a committee, which allowed me to see how the Foundation works and the impact that it can have.
Q. What has getting involved with the Foundation meant to you?
My roles with the Foundation have been a great way to use some of my professional skills in service to God and to Second Presbyterian. Becoming involved with the Foundation has been a great reminder that we all have gifts that are useful to the Kingdom and are often not associated with our ideas about “ministry”.
Q. What have you learned from your involvement with the Foundation?
I have learned that blessings truly flow. I have been involved long enough to see the Foundation provide support to developing ministry leaders who complete their training, come back, and directly impact our church and our city, as well as many others. I have enjoyed watching the Foundation seed several local ministries that have grown and developed into truly life-changing and independently successful ministries. I have watched a foreign ministry opportunity transition from an ambitious idea to a major global initiative with spiritual implications that only our great Lord could make happen.
Q. How do you see the Foundation being effective as a strategic partner with the church?
The Foundation gives Second a virtually permanent ability to undertake and support ministry priorities and initiatives that address major needs here and around the world. The vision of the Foundation and generosity of our congregation has provided an amazing opportunity for us to be strategic and focused in our ministry efforts, beyond the next week, month or year. To think of the long-term impact of the Foundation on so many important local ministries, on developing spiritual leaders, and on meaningful world evangelism efforts is almost mind-boggling now.
Q. How do you see the Foundation being effective as a resource for members of the congregation to carry out their charitable intent?
The Foundation provides a unique vehicle for any of us to enjoy giving during our own time, and have confidence that these gifts can outlive any of us. There are well established governance practices and disciplined processes in place to ensure that the generosity of our congregation will be faithfully administered and dutifully employed for generations to come.