Client Conversations.jpg

Client conversations: Why your 2023 agenda must include charitable giving

No doubt, your news feed includes far more articles about philanthropy as a planning tool for your clients than it did just a few years ago. Charitable giving has always been an important subject of client discussions for attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors. What’s changed is that widespread coverage of both major charitable gifts and the ease of making online donations has prompted mor…

Read More
Spring Cleaning.jpg

It’s not too early for spring cleaning: Make this the year to help clients get organized

If you’re already dreading asking your clients to pull together their receipts and other documents for 2022 tax filings, this may be a good time to take proactive steps to avoid being in this same spot next year.  When it comes to charitable giving, your clients may find that organizing their giving through one or more funds at the community foundation will make their lives easier. Establishing a…

Read More
invest trust.jpg

Invest in impact built on trust

If you’ve supported a particular charitable organization for many years and perhaps even served on its board of directors, you are likely familiar with some basic concepts of “trust-based philanthropy,” even if you didn’t know that’s what it is called. As a devoted supporter of the nonprofit organizations you love, you know that an organization’s chances of success are greatest when its leadershi…

Read More
2022-2.png

So long, 2022: Important charitable tax planning reminders as the year winds down

Now is the time to share important reminders with your clients about year-end gifts. Time is indeed of the essence! Gifts of appreciated stock still shine  Giving in a roller coaster market may continue to be a real concern for many of your philanthropic clients, but remember, not all stocks are down. Gifts of appreciated stock to a donor-advised fund or another type of fund at the FM Area Found…

Read More
happy.jpg

Give a little and feel a lot better

In the classic book The Go-Giver: A Little Story about a Powerful Business Idea, authors Bob Burg and John Mann share how Joe, a young professional, uses unselfishness to ultimately find business success.   Among the philosophies:    –Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.   –Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well …

Read More
Hanging in there.jpg

Hanging in there: Charitable giving in a challenging economy

Earlier this year, Bankrate and Psych Central released the Money and Mental Health study and, not surprisingly, a large number of people surveyed in the research reported that money has a negative impact on their mental health. Survey results varied across generations: Financial concerns psychologically impact 48 percent of Millennials, 46 percent of Generation X, and 40 percent of Generation Z. N…

Read More
Highly appreciated stock.jpg

Highly-appreciated stock: If your client missed the ideal window, it’s still not too late to support charity

During a routine check-in meeting, your client casually mentions that the client’s employer, a local company, was just acquired. The client and dozens of fellow employee shareholders are now flush with cash. “I’d like to use some of the money to give to charity,” the client tells you. “Let’s talk about a family fund at the FM Area Foundation.”  You try not to flinch as you mentally calculate the …

Read More
two key topics.jpg

The “i’s” have it: Two key topics for client meetings

Inflation, interest rates, income tax, and the IRS are ever-present topics during discussions with your clients. Right now, there’s a lot to talk about, especially related to charitable giving.   Let's look at two examples of hot topics that may take a front seat in your client conversations this fall as you are helping your clients consider their options for structuring charitable giving and ph…

Read More
Bananas.jpg

Bunching, long-term appreciated assets, and the fruits of helping younger clients plan their charitable giving

Developing a thorough estate plan isn’t important only for Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. Millennials, who now make up nearly a quarter of the population in the United States, may prove to be more enthusiastic planners than their parents and grandparents, according to the 2022 Estate Planning Study: Millennial Estate Planning Continues in a Pandemic.  What does this mean for planning gifts to charity…

Read More
Handshake.png

Planning a benevolent exit

If you’re a business owner, at some point you may begin thinking about an exit strategy. Before you start putting out feelers to potential acquirers, you may wish to explore the benefits of contributing an ownership interest in your business to a donor-advised fund or other type of fund at the FM Area Foundation.  If you’ve owned your business for several years–or decades–you could be sitting on …

Read More