Category Archives: stewardship

Unique CLT Opportunity in 2012

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Tonight’s first presidential debate signals that the 2012 election is fast approaching.  Regardless of the occupant in the oval office in 2012, tax changes are inevitable. Leon C. LaBrecque addresses many of your concerns in his article, The Perfect Storm: Prospective Expiration of the Bush Tax Cuts. For example, LaBrecque concludes:

“Charitable lead trusts are very attractive for 2012. The ‘Tax Storm’ of 2012 has a wide-reaching and profound effect on individuals, particularly those with charitable intent. The current historically low interest rates provide an unprecedented opportunity for Charitable Lead Trusts, excluded gifts, or low interest rate loans. The possible expiration of the Bush tax cuts make it an imperative for taxpayers with estates larger than $1M to sit down with advisors and make a determined plan of action. If the cuts expire, individuals will have a very narrow window of opportunity to utilize the $5.12M exclusions, the GST exemptions, and the benefits of the current law. This is a year in which pre-planning is crucially important. And, in the off chance that the estate tax is repealed and the income tax rates are permanently lowered to the tax cut rates (in which case we will have a whole new set of problems), the overall family and charity situation has been reviewed and carefully considered.”

As you listen to the debates and decide how you should vote consider your tax situation and explore whether the charitable lead trust is a sound option.  The Stewardship Foundation has developed many charitable lead trusts, charitable remainder trusts and donor advised funds for our clients.  Please contact us so we can assist you to optimize this unique opportunity.

Save your Platform

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In my last blog I wrote I was intrigued by the phrase, “We can Build It” that was prevalent during the Republican National Convention. So, to give equal inspirational opportunity to the Democrats, I cannot help but comment on what a TV commentator said during a report on the DNC’s party platform debacle. He correctly reported that party platforms developed at conventions are nowadays ignored and/or forgotten..

Reflecting on the seeming insignificance of the party platform through  the eyes of my responsibilities here at Stewardship Foundation, I was concerned whether our investors know how seriously we take the principles in which we believe! As the Executive Director of the Stewardship Foundation I wondered as I listened to the subsequent discussion, isn’t the platform an important structure upon which to build the party’s argument for election?  Doesn’t the platform express the vision and mission of the party?  And, isn’t the platform the outline of ideas expressing the party’s intent and action plan? Isn’t it what the Democrats ‘say’ that they believe?

While it is not my intent to contrast the principles of the two parties, I am compelled to notice that the RNC coverage focused on what they can build, whereas the TV coverage of the DNC was more about what they can disavow, dismantle, or ignore.  As the Executive Director of the Stewardship Foundation I want you to know that we encourage you to build your family legacy and express your values, mission, and vision.  We also encourage you to build your “platform”, which should support your values and vision.  Know that the platform that you entrust to the SF will not be ignored or forgotten, but rather it will be foundational in the investments and donations that we make on your behalf for generations to come.

Gold Medal Anticipation

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The opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics is only hours away. Those on the planning committee have been preparing the host city of London over the past four years. If you have read or seen interviews of those in charge you get the sense that the city is ready – ready to host the world.

Olympic SwimmerWe will be treated to a magnificent display of talent and pageantry. While watching the extravaganza we may fail to appreciate all the hard work that led up to this moment. The performers want you to enjoy their efforts without analyzing or adding up the hours spent by the performers. However, they know and we know their proficiency was developed and executed over time.

After the opening ceremonies we eagerly await the competitions. We will cheer for our home athletes and we will marvel at their skill. We will be treated to many stories that will trace the journey of these athletes and their families. A common theme that will emerge is that many, many hours of practice and preparation were necessary to give these athletes the opportunity to compete for the gold medal. Parents and families sacrificed much to assist their athletes in their quest for gold. No doubt we too will shed some tears of joy when our athletes successfully achieve the medal for which they dreamed. They and their families may never be able to fully express their feelings while standing on that podium. All they might be able to appreciate, as they gaze out from the podium, is that the journey is worth it. They will not feel the need to explain to us how difficult the journey was or how many times they fell, or almost failed. They will just want us to enjoy this success with them.

The legacy planning the Stewardship Foundation invites you to explore parallels the Olympic journey of those hosting the events and the athletes competing in them. Legacy planning requires that you plan for future success and the “gold” you wish to leave your family and the charitable causes you support. The decisions you make now, and the plans you implement, can have a positive affect those important to you. And like the gold medal athlete basking on the podium, you too can rejoice in the fruit of your legacy that you started today. You will not have to explain the sacrifices you made to your family or the benefitting charity; you will rejoice knowing those you love and support will benefit from your gold medal foresight.

Contact the Stewardship Foundation to start your legacy today.