Ren | Blog

Unpacking the Future of Philanthropy

Recently, I attended the Alliance for Charitable Reform Summit for Leaders in Washington, D.C. and I came away with many thoughts for the near future of philanthropy. While there is still a lot to unravel from the recent passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the shift in charitable giving is already being felt in the industry. I’ve been reading a lot of articles that have both positive and negative impacts on donors and charities and wanted to summarize my thoughts here.

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Looking for New Ways to Attract New Assets?

It’s no secret, if your business is not growing, it will soon be extinct. In a recent Forbes Magazine study of 803 financial advisors, 91% of them cited their number one concern as how to grow their asset base. It makes sense, we all know what happens to our client’s portfolios when they pass away, or when clients need cash flow at retirement, or one of the myriad reasons assets go out the door. What makes pursuing new assets more challenging is that 88% of those surveyed reported there is intense competition for wealthy clients. There is not only the efficiency of more assets per individual, but there are more options to generate revenue from non-investment solutions.

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Uncertainty over Tax Reform Drives Investors to Charitable Gifts

Rarely does a week pass without some shakeup in Washington D.C. making the headlines. Most recently, the debate over tax reform has taken center stage and on this Giving Tuesday, it is a pertinent time to examine how the proposed changes are sure to influence charitable giving practices. Investors across the country are taking note and have been making serious moves to benefit from the existing tax laws before any changes go into effect.

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Make a Year-End Gift that Gives All Year

Study after study has shown that charitable giving trends ramp up in the fourth quarter. Bolstered by holiday spirit and the need to make gifts to avoid taxes, December is, by far, the month when individuals feel most charitable. But what about the rest of the year? While nonprofit organizations are getting flooded with donations in November and December, charitable giving tends to taper off considerably after January 1st.

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Weathering the Storm Together

According to FEMA, there have been 105 declared natural disasters in the United States this year. From the flooding in Arkansas, Missouri and parts of Illinois, to the wildfires in California and the Pacific Northwest, to the most recent devastation experienced in Houston, Florida, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico caused by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, thousands of people are now homeless and billions of dollars and many months will be needed to complete a full recovery.

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