- Services /
- Philanthropy /
- Investor Services /
- Advisory Services
Philanthropy
Philanthropy
Investor Services Advisory Services
Philanthropy is fundamentally important in creating a legacy for yourself and your family. But with so many ways to give and so many worthy causes, where do you start? By bringing together some of the best minds in estate and charitable planning, we will guide you through what can often be a complicated process. Together, your Financial Advisor advisor and the specialists at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney will help you address the following questions and more.
How Much is Enough?
Like most people, you probably feel a sense of responsibility to improve the health and welfare of your community, your environment and your fellow human beings. But are you giving enough to those causes, based on your charitable goals, tax situation and financial circumstances? Are you giving too much, considering your other needs, like retirement and education funding for your children? Your advisor will assess your income, expenses, taxes and other factors to help you determine an appropriate amount to give to charity.
What Should You Gift?
The easiest and most common method of charitable giving involves direct gifts of cash, either during your lifetime or as a bequest at death. But gifting other types of assets could provide you with greater tax and financial benefits. Appreciated stock, bonds, life insurance, real estate, even limited partnership units-are all eligible for gifting.* Talk to your advisor about the benefits of gifting different types of assets.*Subject to approval by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
How Should You Give?
Your charitable giving "strategy" might consist of simply writing a check in response to charitable solicitations. Though there's nothing wrong with that, you may be able to achieve greater long-term rewards and accomplish more of your objectives by gifting through charitable vehicles. For example, charitable trusts could be appropriate if you're looking to generate income for yourself or a charity. A donor-advised fund might work if you're looking for minimal administration without ceding control of grant-making decisions. Private family foundations could be suitable if you want to make a substantial gift and exercise maximum control over grant making.
Who's Worthy?
With nearly 1.4 million non-profit organizations in the United States alone, there's certainly no shortage of worthy causes to promote.* But which ones align most closely with your vision? And how do you avoid mistakenly funding an illicit or illegal organization? Morgan Stanley Smith Barney can help you identify a charity that shares your passion. At the same time, due diligence can help you steer clear of questionable organizations.*Source: National Center for Charitable Statistics
Integrated Charitable, Estate & Family Wealth Planning
Do you want to compare the tax ramifications of various gifting strategies? Would you like an estimate of the future value of your gift and its potential effect on your estate plan? Your advisor has access to Wealth Planning Specialists in philanthropy, trusts and estate planning--specialists who can help you simplify the complicated. Together with your advisor, these specialists will help you create a plan in which your charitable and philanthropic pursuits go hand in hand with strategies for asset preservation, liquidity, risk management and wealth transference.
In addition, we can help you address the challenges and responsibilities that come with significant wealth as it affects your family. Family Wealth Advisory Services will help you focus on the qualitative issues associated with intergenerational wealth transfer, the management of family offices and the family legacy. We can also help you craft strategies designed to minimize transfer taxes, avoid family conflict, and help descendants lead productive, meaningful lives.
For more information on our comprehensive wealth planning services, please review our brochure on Managing the Portfolio of Your Life.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates, and its employees are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any tax-related statements are not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used or relied upon, by any such taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties. Tax-related statements, if any, may have been written in connection with the "promotion or marketing" of the transaction(s) or matters(s) addressed by these materials, to the extent allowed by applicable law. Any such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer's particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
For more information, please contact your Financial Advisor.