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Beau Beaullieu is a dynamic presence who is leaving an indelible and positive mark on New Iberia. On this episode of Discover Lafayette, Beau visits with Jan Swift about why he is motivated to enhance the lives of others, whether it’s through his work as a financial retirement planner, as a community volunteer, or the good deeds accomplished through the Iberia Parish Foundation which he helped found in 2007. Since our original podcast, Beau Beaullieu was elected to serve as Louisiana State Representative for District 48.
An opportunity to meet with Simon Sinek, the author of “Start With Why” who has delivered one of the most popular Ted Talks ever, inspired Beau to think about what really motivates him in life. The “why” for Beau is to make choices in life which will enhance the lives of others. The path he follows is one of servant leadership which has resulted in successful outcomes in his business and philanthropic endeavors, and is in line with his faith and belief that he was created to do God’s work on earth by helping others.
A partner in CoSource Financial Group, Beau specializes in creating comprehensive retirement plans for businesses and their employees. He co-founded the company in June 2001, a couple of months before the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast. Beau jokingly states that he and his partner, Shawn Harrison’ also weathered the dot com bubble bursting, the 2008 real estate crash, the BP Oil spill, and most recently, the oil and gas downturn which has challenged so many local businesses. They’ve not only survived these challenges, but they have also thrived and have offices in Lafayette, New Iberia, Thibodeaux, Beaumont, and plan to open a fifth office in New Orleans in late 2019.
The advisors at Co-Source Financial Group focus on getting all employees ready for retirement by teaching the need to increase savings. According to Beau, their “secret sauce” is painting a picture for each individual as to what their life might look like when they are 65 years old and able to reap the benefits of sound financial planning by saving throughout their work career.
A native of New Iberia, Beau graduated from LSU with a degree in finance and then earned an MBA at UL Lafayette. He lives in New Iberia with his wife Kaci, and 4 children.
On the civic and volunteer side, Beau was named one of the ‘Top 20 under 40 Leaders In Acadiana’ by the Daily Advertiser and The705 in 2013. He is a Member of Council 11793 for the Knights of Columbus, an Iberia Cultural Resources Association Board Member, served on the Iberia Parish Industrial Development Foundation, as a member and past President of the New Iberia Kiwanis Club, and was awarded the Civic Service Award by the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce in 2018.
He served as a leader on the team that established the Iberia Parish Foundation (which is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Acadiana). An initial $100 investment has now mushroomed into a fund worth almost $4 million dollars. One of the important projects supported by the Foundation is the Leader In Me program, a program taught to young students which is modeled upon the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People principles written by Stephen R. Covey. Students are taught the importance of self-discipline and teamwork, social and emotional awareness, and many other life skills that will get them ready for success in today’s world. Leader In Me has been incorporated in New Iberia at Daspit Elementary, Jeanerette Elementary, North Street Elementary, and St. Charles Elementary Schools and the school system hopes to expand into a fifth school next year.
Beau is also a cook and alongside Andy Soileau and their New Iberia Kiwanis Club, the team has won first place eleven times at the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff. Their top recipe under the Melange category is smoked turkey and andouille gumbo which was written up in Southern Living Magazine here.
Mardi Gras is also important in the life of Beau Beaullieu. For years, the Krewe of Andalusia had organized the annual Mardi Gras festivities, but as members aged and moved on, the krewe was no longer able to put on the parade. After a ‘silent’ 2016 Mardi Gras season, Beau, along with
Pat Norris, Mike Wattigny, Wess Robinson formed the Bayou Mardi Gras Association, organized the event and fundraising efforts, and the floats once again rolled in 2017. New Iberia just recently enjoyed a wonderful 2019 Mardi Gras celebration!
Thanks to Beau Beaullieu for an inspirational look at his life and the culture of New Iberia.
For more information on Co-Source Financial Group, visit
http://www.cosourcefinancial.com.
This post was updated on January 23, 2020 to reflect Beau’s election to the State House of Representatives, District 48.
