Plan Today, Protect Tomorrow

Do you find yourself among the half of all Americans who do not have a will? Or do you have a will that you haven’t reviewed in years? This August, make it a priority to protect your assets, your family, and your legacy. And, while you do, consider including a few sentences that direct a future gift to us to support our meaningful work for generations.

An Act of Love

By taking the time to create or update a will, you are easing the burden on your heirs. They won’t have to guess at your wishes. You can appoint a guardian for minor children, direct meaningful heirlooms to specific recipients, ensure the necessary estate liquidity to cover debts and expenses, plan in a way that minimizes taxes, and select a trustworthy estate administrator to take care of all the details. Of course, you can also provide financial security for those you care about most.

A Heartfelt Impact

Many people reach beyond family and loved ones to make a difference for others by supporting meaningful charitable organizations. With just a few sentences, you can include a gift to us in a new or existing will, touching lives well beyond your lifetime. A gift in your will is not only easy to make, it’s easy to change if your goals or circumstances change. It’s also flexible, allowing you to specify:

• A fixed asset or amount
• A percentage of your estate
• The remainder of your estate after all other debts and taxes have been paid

You also have the option to create an endowment or charitable trust in your will.

A Possible Tax Benefit

If you expect your estate to be larger than the estate tax exemption amount (currently $13.99 million and rising to $15 million in 2026), adding charitable gifts to your will can be a smart way to reduce the size of your taxable estate while meeting your philanthropic goals.

A Call to Action

National Make-a-Will Month is a call to action. While writing or reviewing a will is one of the most important planning tasks, it’s also one of the easiest to procrastinate. Now is the time. Protect your family, pass on more wealth through careful planning, and create a legacy that will live on for decades or even generations. Work with your attorney to ensure that your will complies with state laws, handles complex assets correctly, and accomplishes your goals.

Read more about making a gift in your will.