The senior vice president/investments for Stifel in Radford, VA, George Abie Williams consults with clients on wealth-building strategies. In addition to his 40 plus years of financial advising in VA, George Abie Williams has ties with nearby Radford University.

Students at the university’s Davis College of Business and Economics applied their accounting knowledge in 2022 by helping hundreds of local residents though the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Organized in conjunction with New River Community Action, VITA recipients saved on preparation fees, which were estimated at $250 per filer. VITA director Lacey Desper said this represented a total of $94,750 that could be put to other uses.

Operating from a small budget, Desper faced an uphill challenge in getting the program on its feet. Emailing all of Radford’s accounting teachers, she enlisted the assistance of the dean of Davis College and two other professors. This enabled her to recruit preparers and find crucial campus office space, conveniently located near a bus line as an alternative to the other VITA office in Pulaski.

Volunteers did more than simply crunch numbers - they also counseled taxpayers on subjects such as the relationship of Social Security benefits to earnings, methods of ensuring a refund, and overall money management. The program will be offered again in 2023.