Many donors may find it to their advantage to gift from their assets – in many instances using wealth they never believed they would have – versus gifting from their needed income.

Consult with your advisors to explore the best ways to use estate planning tools. Be well prepared before you bequest arrangements or other estate plans:

• Determine your financial needs and those of your family for your/their lifetime. Your estate plan should be considered thereafter.
• List the property you wish to distribute: securities, real estate, life insurance, personal possessions, etc.
• Consider ways to match the people or organization with the property.
• List the professional planners you need to consult: attorney, accountant, tax advisor, charitable organization representative.

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