If this, then that: Your charitable planning cheat sheet
At the FM Area Foundation, we’ve recently been asked by attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors for “cheat sheet” resources to make it easy to determine which type of charitable planning tool is best for a particular client. We love that idea! We’re always happy to be a sounding board for any client situation where charitable […]
QCDs: $105,000, $108,000, and more things to smile about
As you and other attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors put the finishing touches on implementing clients’ year-end charitable giving plans, you may have a moment when it hits you: “Wait, how exactly does a Qualified Charitable Distribution work?” That’s a great question, and you are not alone if you’re asking. Even though QCDs are well-covered […]
Estate tax planning: What’s your next move?
As attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, you’re aware of potentially significant upcoming changes to the tax laws that could impact your high net-worth clients. Whether or not a post-election Congress takes action to prevent the estate tax exemption sunset at the end of 2025 will potentially affect how you design your clients’ wealth transfer strategies. During this […]
Into the great unknown
Humans crave certainty, and that is certainly not what we have right now during election season, especially where taxes are concerned. Your clients who support charitable causes may be wondering how the election outcomes might impact their philanthropic plans. You’re probably wondering that, too! Of course, no one has a crystal ball. It is impossible […]
Event tickets: Beware of the split
Many of your philanthropy-minded clients certainly enjoy attending fundraising events for their favorite charities. Especially as community events start ramping up this fall, you’ll want to be aware of a little wrinkle in the IRS rules that may surprise your clients so much that they ask you about it. Here’s how this might go. Client: […]
At a loss for words? Tips for starting a charitable giving conversation
At a loss for words? Tips for starting a charitable giving conversationAttorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors certainly are not strangers to tough questions. Indeed, the mix of money, family, and mortality is a potent combination that almost always creates an emotionally charged planning environment, whether the matter at hand is tax planning, updating wills and […]
“Shell funds” and other handy tools for charitable clients who are planning ahead
Getting a jump on a future “to do” list is always such a good feeling. The team at the FM Area Foundation can help you with your clients’ long-term charitable giving plans by putting in place the structures to receive bequests decades from now. Consider a case where you’re finalizing an estate plan for a […]
Fund types tailored to your client’s charitable goals
Just as each of your clients has a unique estate plan and financial plan to meet the client’s particular situation and goals, each of your philanthropic clients needs a unique charitable giving plan. For example, for some clients, giving shares of highly-appreciated stock consistently yearly to their fund at the FM Area Foundation makes the […]
What happens when I leave a bequest to my fund at the community foundation?
Many donors and fund holders at the FM Area Foundation have updated their estate plans to leave a bequest to their donor-advised or other type of fund. Some bequests take the form of a “specific bequest,” meaning that the FM Area Foundation fund receives a specific amount of money from the donor’s probate estate or […]
Our door is open: What happens when you meet with the team
At the FM Area Foundation, we are honored to work with generous individuals and families like so many of you who’ve established funds to support the causes you care about and the needs of our community both now and in the future. We’re also inspired by those of you who are getting to know the […]