For many attorneys, financial advisors, and CPAs, estate planning is part of your client conversations every single month, week, and day of the year. You never hesitate to remind clients to update their wills, trusts, and financial plans as circumstances change in their lives.
We’ve rounded the corner into the fourth quarter! As the calendar year draws to a close, you’re likely well aware that charitable giving is not only important to your clients first and foremost as an act of generosity, but also as a powerful tool in tax planning.
Remember the good old days when your clients could withdraw the money they inherited in their parents’ IRAs over the course of their lifetimes, thereby deferring the income tax for as long as possible? This so-called “stretch IRA” was largely eliminated by the SECURE Act of 2019, requiring most non-spouse beneficiaries to withdraw the entire inherited IRA within 10 years, rather than stretching withdrawals over their lifetime.
At YouthBridge Community Foundation of Greater St. Louis, we work with business leaders and business owners to structure charitable giving plans that achieve the company’s goals for its employees and the community. In many cases, corporate giving strategies include donating to local charities, whether directly or through a corporate fund at YouthBridge.
If your head is spinning, it’s for a good reason! Let’s face it–the rules for using IRAs to give to charity were complicated before the OBBBA got thrown into the mix. Let’s address five frequently asked questions we’ve been hearing from attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors as you counsel your charitable clients.
“So what does it mean for charitable planning, really?” That’s a question our team has been fielding from attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors ever since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act became law on July 4, 2025.
If you’ve noticed a surprising uptick in recent years among your younger clients investing in artwork, it is not your imagination! A survey of 1,007 U.S. high net worth individuals (each with at least $3 million in investable assets) found that 83% of respondents aged 43 and under said they currently own or would like to own art—compared with only 34% of those older than 43.
At YouthBridge Community Foundation of Greater St. Louis, we’re dedicated to helping your clients achieve their charitable goals. We’re honored to serve as your trusted resource for tax-efficient giving strategies, help your clients maximize their charitable impact, and support your clients as they build lasting philanthropic legacies.
It’s never been easy to navigate the ever-shifting tax rules to help clients structure charitable gifts, and now it’s even trickier. Major changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, are creating complexity, opportunity, and, for some, urgency.
As an estate planning, tax, or wealth advisor, you play a critical role in helping your clients maximize the impact of charitable giving while also optimizing tax benefits. Unfortunately, a 2023 survey found that only 19.2% of advisors regularly discuss charitable giving with clients, and … More →
Don’t you wish you could read your clients’ minds? Understanding what clients really care about is crucial to constructing any estate or financial plan. When it comes to charitable giving, you can be a step ahead. Plenty of research offers clues about what matters most … More →
If your client base includes business owners, you probably weren’t surprised by this observation in a recent Wall Street Journal article about the “stealthy wealthy”: “Behind a paycheck, the largest source of income for the 1% highest earners in the U.S. isn’t being a partner … More →
As you advise clients on charitable giving, you’re likely aware of the growing popularity of the donor-advised fund as a flexible, tax-efficient tool for philanthropy. Many families appreciate how donor-advised funds can streamline giving, foster family engagement, and serve as a launchpad for deeper community … More →
There’s little doubt that you’ve seen extensive news coverage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1) that passed the House of Representatives by a 215-214 vote on May 22, 2025, and now moves to the Senate, where significant changes are expected before final passage. … More →
As 2025 continues to deliver twists and turns, it’s important to keep talking about philanthropy. Charitable giving is a vital strategy for your clients, even in times of economic uncertainty. Here are three trends to watch as you guide your clients through an unpredictable era … More →
The number of private foundations in the United States is nearing 150,000 with combined assets topping $1 trillion, so it’s no wonder that a lot of people immediately think about establishing a private foundation when they begin to explore structuring their charitable giving activities. You’re … More →
If you’ve represented charitable families over the years, you’ve certainly heard the term “charitable remainder trust,” sometimes called a “CRT.” You might have even helped clients set them up. For most attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, CRTs don’t come along every day. Because a CRT … More →
As attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, you know very well that trust is at the foundation of your relationships with clients. Your clients are seeking a similar level of trust with the people and organizations that are helping carry out their philanthropic wishes.
When you’re working on the charitable components of a client’s estate or financial plan, one of the first areas you’ll likely explore is the structure. To help you evaluate a client’s options, here are three common myths about the differences between private foundations and donor-advised funds.
After the holiday glow has finally worn off, your clients may be hit with a sinking realization that it’s time to pull together tax information and start working with their CPAs, financial advisors, and tax attorneys on the filings for last year and start checking in on current-year strategies.