Ren | Blog

Still reeling from the sting of your tax bill for 2015?  Nothing can ruin a beautiful spring day like writing Internal Revenue Service in the “Pay to the Order of” section of a check.  Perhaps you are an accountant or trusted advisor who had to deliver the exciting news to a client that they must make “additional contributions” to the government this year?  Unfortunately, our time machine is still in development so we can’t go back to 2015 to right our wrongs, but moving forward, there is a way to turn potential compulsory contributions to Uncle Sam into charitable gifts for organizations you and your clients love.

Read More »I Owe WHAT in Taxes?

Traffic on all northbound arteries is picking up as the snowbirds return home after their winter in the sunny south.  For many of these retirees, their first order of business once home will be to visit their trusted advisors. If your clients share with you concerns about maintaining two homes, are you ready to discuss options with them?

Read More »A CRT can provide a happy home for unwanted real estate

In my previous post, I discussed how to properly evaluate the potential acquisition by a CRT of an illiquid position in a private equity investment, non-traded REIT, or limited partnership interest.  Today, I will cover the other three areas I always advise clients to evaluate with illiquid gifts: self-dealing, valuation and liquidity.

Read More »Don’t Forget about Liquidity!

I’m frequently asked whether a certain private equity investment, non-traded REIT, or limited partnership interest is a suitable investment for a charitable remainder trust (CRT). My response is a resounding, “Maybe!” With any investment other than cash, a security traded on an exchange, or an investment such as a mutual fund for which a daily net asset value (NAV) is available, there are five specific areas of concern I advise a client (or their advisor) to evaluate:

Read More »Illiquid or Unmarketable Assets as CRT Investments

Without a doubt, I plan to be the winner of the $1.5 Billion Powerball jackpot this Wednesday.  I have $20 worth of tickets in hand and I just know the winner is there.  I also now know that you can’t buy lottery tickets with a debit card, only cash.  Sorry to the line of people behind me who had to wait while I ran to the ATM.

Read More »If I Had a Billion Dollars…

On Friday, Congress permanently allowed donors to make qualifying distributions to charities from their IRA while still alive.

Read More »IRA Charitable Rollover Made Permanent

For more than a decade donor-advised funds (DAFs) have been the fastest growing giving vehicle in the charitable giving landscape.  So what draws donors to DAFs?  When we peel back the layers, we find a whole host of reasons and benefits.  In addition to being easy to establish, DAFs offer an immediate tax benefit, a tax free environment for appreciated assets to be sold, anonymity in giving, family involvement, and the ability to spread giving over many years.

Read More »DAF Stats: Baby Boomers Lead the Way but Millennials Gaining Ground on Gen X

It’s time.

As we all come off the four-day food bender that is Thanksgiving, we must face the inevitable; the Christmas season is here.  For those who are like me, I adopt ostrich-like qualities from what now seems like Labor Day through Thanksgiving, ignoring the ever-expanding holiday shopping propaganda.Read More »Making our List and Checking it Twice

Just about any asset can be a good candidate for a donor-advised fund (DAF). Cash and publicly traded securities are by far the most common, but there are many other under-utilized ‘specialty” assets that work well for a contribution to a DAF.  Such specialty assets include closely-held business interests, real estate, equipment, collectibles, and other similar property.

Read More »Time is Running Out to Donate Specialty Assets