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Making the most out of your charitable gift

March 6, 2020 | TS Prosperity Group

“Life’s persistent and most urgent question is “what are you doing for others?”
– Martin Luther King Jr.

We believe in giving back with both our time and resources. In fact, ‘giving’ is one of our core principles and we strongly believe in paying it forward. Over the years, we’ve found alignment in this with many of our clients and we strive to help them make the most of their charitable donations.

Are you philanthropic? Do you give to your church, a hospital, school or another organization that is operated for charitable purposes? Here are a couple of ways your kindness can benefit both you and your charity of choice.

  • Low basis stock – If you have low cost basis investments, give the investment (or part of it) to a charity. The charity doesn’t pay taxes on the gain of the investment and neither do you. In addition, if you itemize your tax deductions, this may count as a tax deduction. However, be sure to give the investment itself to the charity instead of selling it first then giving the cash to the charity.
  • Required minimum distributions – Are you of the age required to take a distribution out of your retirement account? If so, you can have your retirement account pay the charity directly and you will not need to count the amount of the distribution as income for the year. Again, be sure that the retirement account pays the charity directly and that the distribution never touches your account.

These are two ways to give that are more tax friendly than giving cash directly. However, keep in mind there are limitations on how much can be deducted from your taxes but you may also be able to carry it forward. Be sure to talk to a tax professional or financial planner before finalizing the donation to see if the situation is right for you and remember, you can always reach out to our affiliate, Collins Consulting Services for tax advice, or to me directly for holistic planning needs.

At TS Prosperity Group, we IGNITE PROSPERITY® by helping our clients do more with their money. Whether it’s saving a little extra cash each month or accomplishing a long-term strategy, our goal is to help you transform your financial life. Call and schedule an appointment today, one of our team members would love to help you do more with your money at TS Prosperity Group. TS Prosperity Group is based in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with clients across the midwest. For more information visit tsprosperitygroup.com or call 844-487-3115. #igniteprosperity