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By: Abby Bennett, CFP®

It seems to me that every year the holiday season begins a little earlier. I heard this year’s first (and second, and third) rendition of “Jingle Bells” on the radio on November 1st. While I do wish the festive music would wait until after Thanksgiving – Turkey Day deserves its time to shine – I appreciate the effort to spark cheerful generosity as early as possible. Others do, too, it seems; nearly one-third of annual charitable giving occurs in December.

If you, too, plan to make substantial charitable gifts in the coming weeks, or even in future years, the seemingly easiest way to give – using cash or writing a check out of your bank account – may not be your best, most tax-efficient option. There are other ways to give that can not only further reduce taxes, but can also be a powerful tool to use for many years of gift-making. Some of these strategies include:

*Gifting business interests or real estate is complex and should be thoughtfully integrated into your overall financial plan. This type of giving, in particular, should be done with the expert guidance of your CPA and attorney.

Each of these methods can be very powerful. A dollar saved in taxes could be another dollar given to charity. As you think through your giving plans, consider what additional causes you could support by being more intentional in your strategy. Every little bit counts!

 

Abby Bennett, CFP® is a financial planner in Charlotte, NC. She provides financial advice to families and business owners, and specializes in financial planning for engineers and tech professionals. Click here to learn more about Abby.

Nothing contained herein constitutes financial, legal, tax, or other advice. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Carolinas Investment Consulting. CIC is not affiliated with any external party linked to herein. The information published herein is provided for informational purposes only, and does not constitute an offer, solicitation or recommendation to sell or an offer to buy securities, investment products or investment advisory services. All information, views, opinions and estimates are subject to change or correction without notice. The appropriateness of an investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s circumstances and objectives. These opinions may not fit to your financial status, risk and return preferences. Past performance is not indicative of future returns.

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