He was surprised to learn that many mega-gifts have come from people without a demonstrated history of giving. The fact is that many people are philanthropically predisposed, but they haven t been asked, says Hoffman. Likewise, they may have the financial capacity to make a large planned gift but may not have done so because they are unaware of the techniques and vehicles that can help them accomplish their personal financial and philanthropic goals. Actively teaching clients about planned giving Once an accountant has made the decision to advise clients in planned giving, Hoffman suggests a smart first step is to learn as much as you can about the tools and techniques of the business. I would recommend that planners have a well-rounded planned giving education, says Hoffman.
Many planners limit their education to the most popular of planned giving vehicles.
Clients often lose out when this happens, both in tax breaks and the opportunity to give as much as possible. The more an advisor knows about planned giving and the matters that affect it, the better they can serve a client and, in turn, their client s charities of choice. The right resources, the best information Because it is so important for successful planned giving advisors to be aware of the latest news in the industry, finding the best sources for this information is crucial. That is why we created the Planned Giving Design Center, explains Hoffman, to provide educational resources to professionals. Legal editors at the organization compile the latest news releases and reports from the IRS, courts and other sources affecting charitable taxation.