The Benefits of Planned Giving in Your Will

You probably know a will is important for distributing your assets to the people and causes you care about, but did you know that creating one has personal benefits? This is especially true when you use it to give a gift to a cause you love, such as elevating the health of our mountain communities.

Here’s how including a gift in your will benefits you:

1. It can lessen anxiety. Thinking and planning ahead can make it less daunting to talk about what happens when you’re gone. How? It gives you reassurance that the people and causes close to your heart are taken care of.
2. It can lend perspective. Taking stock of what’s important can help you focus on your goals and be more aware of how you want to impact the world.
3. It sets an example. Your gift can be an inspiration. Your story can have a ripple effect on your loved ones or other supporters of causes near and dear to you.
4. It just feels good. Giving makes you feel good. Really! Research shows that the act of giving reduces stress-related activity in one area of the brain while increasing reward-related activity in another.

Of course, loved ones are the first people to consider when creating your will. Then, think about the nonprofits you want to support. Providing for causes you care about is an excellent way to demonstrate your values, help you gain a better understanding of what’s important to you and set an example for others to follow.

Information contained herein was accurate at the time of printing. The information in this publication is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results.