The “giving” question and listening for charitable opportunitie
The role of the Professional Advisor
The professional advisor plays a singularly important role in helping the client create and realise a personal philanthropic vision.
Helping a client realise a philanthropic vision provides an opportunity for professional advisors to do what they do best – identify creative solutions that help their clients solve problems and achieve specific objectives.
Advisors do not tell clients what they should be doing in their wills, but advisors can advise what options are available.
People without children who have worked hard to establish their financial security are sometimes genuinely frustrated at just not knowing what to do with their estates. For these people the idea of making a positive difference to their community on a permanent basis by having income paid to their chosen charity every year forever, is a very attractive one.
Likewise, parents with children naturally want to help their children first, but many love the idea of leaving, say, 10% of their estate to their local Community Foundation to provide that same long-term benefit to their community.
What are the other benefits?
How to start the discussion
One of the simplest and most important things you can do to help your clients enjoy the benefits of charitable giving is to ask them the giving question:
Would you like to consider leaving a gift in your will to a charity or cause you care about?
The best prospects for significant charitable gifts
Research shows that the following types of individuals represent the best prospects for significant charitable gifts:
Age 70 and older
Age 60 and over
By circumstances
Planning charitable giving
Many clients want their professional advisors to help them plan charitable giving. Advance Ashburton can work with you to answer these questions and help each client fulfil their charitable goals.
Advance Ashburton can help
The Foundation can help your clients achieve their charitable goals. We welcome the opportunity to work with you.
There’s so much more we’d like you to share with you. Contact us
The professional advisor plays a singularly important role in helping the client create and realise a personal philanthropic vision.
Helping a client realise a philanthropic vision provides an opportunity for professional advisors to do what they do best – identify creative solutions that help their clients solve problems and achieve specific objectives.
Advisors do not tell clients what they should be doing in their wills, but advisors can advise what options are available.
People without children who have worked hard to establish their financial security are sometimes genuinely frustrated at just not knowing what to do with their estates. For these people the idea of making a positive difference to their community on a permanent basis by having income paid to their chosen charity every year forever, is a very attractive one.
Likewise, parents with children naturally want to help their children first, but many love the idea of leaving, say, 10% of their estate to their local Community Foundation to provide that same long-term benefit to their community.
What are the other benefits?
- Charitable giving can generate significant tax benefits – your client may not be aware of this opportunity.
- The ability to provide for a charitable gift often produces a deep sense of fulfilment and satisfaction – your client may be very grateful to you for not only asking the “giving question”, but also helping him/her to satisfy that philanthropic desire.
- Your client may never have mentioned an interest in charitable giving – perhaps due to a disappointing experience or to lack of information about the range and scope of opportunity. You can offer your client an opportunity to become informed without any obligation.
- Your client may think that his/her resources are not sufficient to consider charitable giving. You can show your client a variety of creative ways to make a gift that is compatible with his/her personal and financial circumstances.
- It’s good for society, it’s good for your clients, it’s good for your business, and it’s good for you.
- You’d be surprised how many of your clients are searching for a way to give back to society, to remember a loved one, or simply to do good.
How to start the discussion
One of the simplest and most important things you can do to help your clients enjoy the benefits of charitable giving is to ask them the giving question:
Would you like to consider leaving a gift in your will to a charity or cause you care about?
The best prospects for significant charitable gifts
Research shows that the following types of individuals represent the best prospects for significant charitable gifts:
Age 70 and older
- Have provided for their families
- Have not outlived resources
- Have continued to support charity
Age 60 and over
- Already retired or about to retire
- Diminished family responsibilities
- Demonstrate a philanthropic intent
- Unmarried with no close family ties
- Married couples with no children
- Married couples with financially successful children
By circumstances
- Recently sold or about to sell a business
- Recently came into or about to come into an inheritance
- Recognising the loss of a family member
Planning charitable giving
Many clients want their professional advisors to help them plan charitable giving. Advance Ashburton can work with you to answer these questions and help each client fulfil their charitable goals.
- What are your client’s personal motivations for charitable giving?
- What are your client’s charitable interests in the community?
- What level of involvement does your client want to have in identifying charitable uses for their gift?
- What type of giving instrument best fits your client’s financial situation and tax status?
Advance Ashburton can help
The Foundation can help your clients achieve their charitable goals. We welcome the opportunity to work with you.
There’s so much more we’d like you to share with you. Contact us
