Do you desire a clear, concise overview of giving options, how they work, and what makes them beneficial? This one-page planning guide covers many tools and strategies for making gifts while accomplishing personal planning goals and reaping useful tax benefits.

Simple gifts can nonetheless be highly strategic gifts. We start with a review of the steps to a sound giving strategy. Then, we introduce effective gift options for making a difference today as well as options for making a difference in the future.

When it comes to retirement planning, each life stage requires a different focus. But no matter the stage, philanthropy can play an important part in achieving overall goals. We look at time-tested giving options including wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, appreciated stock, real estate, and gift annuities.

Whether an individual is approaching retirement or already there, they are likely interested in increasing retirement income and reducing taxes. We discuss several ways donors can achieve a comfortable retirement while giving back by converting assets into income streams as part of a charitable gift.

We all have long-term personal, financial and philanthropic goals. We explore a variety of long-term strategies and creative gift plans that can help donors maintain their current lifestyle, take advantage of tax benefits, and make more satisfying charitable gifts.

It’s easy for people to understand the necessity of having a complete and accessible record of financial information. Unfortunately, it’s just as easy for them to put off creating one. You can use this handy form to compile information and possibly even reveal areas where additional planning is necessary.

Many people have maxed out their retirement contributions but still want to generate more income in retirement. Deferred gift annuities can provide an easy charitable solution. We discuss how they work and detail their many benefits.

Retirement assets are heavily taxed when distributed to heirs, but not taxed when given to charity. For those planning a charitable gift, we discuss why retirement assets may be particularly beneficial for donation.

Completing a gift by the end of the year can reduce a donor’s current tax bill. We explore how various assets and giving strategies can help donors accomplish their year-end planning goals.

IRA owners over age 70½ can meet philanthropic goals by making a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA. We discuss the details of this giving strategy so that donors can decide if it fits into their overall financial plan.

Retirement planning strategies and goals change over the course of one's life. We explore some common planning options that might prove particularly useful for those navigating three life stages: working, preparing for retirement, and the golden years.

A charitable gift annuity is a life income gift that offers benefits to both donor and charity. We review the basics through a short selection of questions and answers on this popular giving method.

Sometimes, donors wonder how to make a meaningful gift to charity without putting their family’s financial security in jeopardy. A charitable gift annuity is a possible solution. We explore this popular way to for donors to give while receiving a life income and taking advantage of favorable tax benefits.

A charitable gift annuity is a popular way for a donor to make a significant gift while securing a series of fixed income payments. We use a simple question and answer format to look more closely at the reasons for this popularity and the ins and outs of gift annuities.

A charitable gift annuity is a popular and simple way to contribute to charity and also receive an income, which often allows donors to make larger gifts than would otherwise have been possible. We discuss how gift annuities work and help donors decide if this tool might have a place in their overall planning.

The charitable gift annuity allows a donor to support a charity while securing an income, starting either now or later. We explore the ins and outs of this flexible giving tool and the many ways donors can tailor it to fit their own situation and goals.

A charitable remainder trust provides a life income before gifting the remaining trust assets to charity. We review the basics through a short selection of questions and answers on this important giving method.

A charitable lead trust is a powerful tool for making a stream of annual gifts to charity and then passing the remaining trust assets to heirs. Through a simple question-and-answer format, we present the basics of this win-win opportunity for tax-efficient wealth transfer, from interest rates to funding options.

Trusts are not just for the very wealthy. We help donors understand a wide variety of trusts—including charitable trusts—and how each can help them accomplish their planning goals, provide financial security, control the disposition of their assets, and produce meaningful tax savings.

A charitable remainder trust is a powerful tool for creating a stream of income payments (for life or for a period of years) and then making a deferred charitable gift of the trust’s remaining assets. We discuss how it works, how to tailor it to meet individual needs and objectives, and the significant tax benefits.

Versatile and unique, a donor advised fund is a way to make a gift to a sponsoring organization and qualify for an immediate federal income tax charitable deduction. Learn how donor advised funds work, including the donor's advisory privileges regarding charitable distributions from the fund.

A revocable gift is a comfortable commitment—an easy way to plan a future gift while retaining the flexibility to make changes if necessary. We provide more information about gifts in a will, beneficiary designations, gifts of retirement assets, and revocable living trusts.

Giving life insurance, either outright or through a beneficiary designation, is an effective way for a donor to make a major impact with little or no immediate out-of-pocket cost. We discuss this gift option, along with the alternate strategy of using policy proceeds to replace other donated assets.

Many potential donors own real estate they no longer wish to manage. They are looking for a tax-efficient way to pass the property to heirs or convert it into an income stream. We explore charitable giving options that unlock a property’s earning potential and create tax savings while making a meaningful gift.

When many individuals consider giving, they immediately think of cash—but, of course, there are so many other options. We detail the many ways to give and the benefits associated with each gift, including securities, closely held stock, real estate, life insurance, and tangible property.

Selling appreciated stock results in a hefty capital gains tax. However, donating appreciated stock avoids this tax and provides a charitable tax deduction. We explore how to make the most effective use of appreciated stock in either outright or life income gifts.

For those considering a major gift but concerned about its impact on future finances, a life income gift (charitable remainder trust or charitable gift annuity) may be the answer. We discuss this gift option that also provides income payments, possibly allowing a larger gift than the donor thought possible.

For those who think that only a privileged few are wealthy enough to leave a meaningful legacy, we explore the many flexible and tax-favored ways to make gifts of all sizes—outright gifts, gifts in a will, life income plans, trusts, pooled income funds, beneficiary designations, and more.

A will can have a profound effect on the financial well-being of an individual’s family members, friends, and selected charitable organizations, all while reflecting their life values. We discuss the key elements, their ability to change or revoke the will, and what makes a will highly effective.

A bequest is an easy way to make a gift in a will that allows for flexibility and modifications. We review the basics using a short selection of questions and answers on this popular giving method.

A gift in a will is a popular, simple and flexible way to give, but some assets generate greater tax advantages than others. We explore the treatment of a variety of assets to help donors most effectively tailor their gift to their own personal circumstances and objectives.

Simple or complex, a will is more than just a tool to distribute assets—it is a reflection of an individual’s life values. We highlight six basic steps that will allow donors to make the most effective use of this important legal document.

Some people want the satisfaction of supporting a meaningful cause but don’t feel they can make the gift immediately. We look at the many benefits of making a gift in a will—simplicity, flexible implementation and timing, ease of making changes, the potential tax impact, and more.

Some day, when the time comes, each of us will be remembered not just for our actions and connections, but for our support of meaningful causes or organizations. We examine the steps donors can take now to shape their legacy through the effective and thoughtful use of a will or living trust.

Estate planning ensures that an individual’s personal objectives are carried out after death. We look at the many issues facing estates without an estate plan, give donors a better understanding of how to develop an effective plan, and encourage the incorporation of philanthropy.

Right now, estate taxation is relatively stable and affects very few estates—but estate planning is about so much more than tax reduction. We detail the many critical reasons to plan, along with the valuable role of charitable giving in providing important tax benefits and creating a lasting, meaningful legacy.

Donors looking to provide for loved ones and support favorite charitable organizations often overlook certain easy-to-make, flexible gifts. This document discusses several revocable gift options, including payable on death (POD) and transfer on death (TOD) designations, naming us as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement account, real estate transfer on death, and successor elections for donor advised funds.