Comprehensive Planning

GIVING AND TAXES

To encourage charitable activity, the tax law has long given favored tax treatment to charitable contributions. As our tax system has become more complex, the laws governing charitable contributions and the strategies to reduce taxes through philanthropy have similarly evolved in their complexity. We understand the techniques of charitable giving, both basic and sophisticated, and will work with you to evaluate the best approach for meeting your charitable objectives and achieving the best tax results.

PHILANTROPIC PLANNING

We believe philanthropic planning is part of a complete financial plan. Once people understand the options and the tax, financial, and investment benefits, we have found many people, even those who may not have been charitable before, choose to provide for charity either through current gifts or through their estates.

Effective philanthropic planning is predicated on the notion of choice. The power of charitable giving is perhaps best understood when you acknowledge there are only three places the wealth you do not spend can go. Your unspent wealth can go to:

• Your family or friends
• Charity
• The government as taxes

When you leave wealth to your family, the government shares in the bequest. When you give to charity, the government is left out, but so is your family. For many people, there is an optimal point—a point where your family receives enough, charity receives something, and the government’s portion is minimized.