Insights

Financial Consultant David Kratz has been sharing ideas with his clients for 35 years. One concept that many of his clients find especially meaningful is including family in their charitable planning decisions. That was the intent of David’s clients who recently established a donor-advised fund.

When Jean Greening tells her clients to “give until it hurts,” she uses her own story to set the stage. Several years ago, her church asked Jean to make a stretch gift on their building project, but she was hesitant. “It was an ‘aha’ moment for me,” Jean recalls. “If I gave an easy gift, would it even make a difference? Giving more helps you grow.”

Like many financial professionals, Lauren Hutto likes to present her clients with choices when making recommendations. More often now, she includes charitable solutions in the options she offers. She recently took that approach with a retired couple she knows well from volunteering with them at her church’s bread ministry. They sold their home before moving into an assisted living facility and wanted to be smart with the $200,000 from the sale.

When meeting with her clients, financial professional Jennifer Cords emphasizes the effectiveness of a donor-advised fund. By helping her clients put their charitable plans in place, they're able to support the charities closest to their hearts, even in a time of uncertainty.