“Estate planning” used to be something just for wealthy, older people to consider, but times have changed. More and more often, people start considering what they want to leave behind earlier in life. Regardless of income or age, we each face major life events that can impact our financial situation and lead us to consider our legacy. Planned or deferred gifts do not affect your current economic stability and are revocable if your circumstances change. Additionally, estate planning now can help:

• Ensure economic freedom and security
• Reduce your tax burden and that of your heirs
• Take the burden of decision making and a potential source of conflict away from family members
• Offer you peace of mind
• Serve your community for many years to come
• Ensure your legacy is one of helping others and making the world a better place

Of the many types of planned giving vehicles, bequests and beneficiary designations are popular for their ease and simplicity.

Bequests: To donate cash or publicly traded securities to Opportunity Council through your will, you may name the organization as a beneficiary. You may find this sample language helpful for creating or adjusting your will.

Beneficiary Designations: You may also make a lasting gift by designating Opportunity Council as your choice of beneficiary for your life insurance, retirement plan, or donor advised fund. In fact, donating IRA and retirement plans to charity often costs less than passing those funds on to your children. Please speak to your attorney or financial advisor about what will work best for you and your family and for exact details.