Every now and then you get a glimpse of heaven. And your legacy. I have a son-in-law, Phillip. He comes from a family of 13. His youngest brother, David, is 9 years old. On Wednesday, David was crossing the road to get the mail when he was hit by a pickup truck. He was killed instantly. Yesterday, a celebration of …
Are you prepared for the rising surge of “stuff giving?”
Earlier this year, the Washington Post (March 27, 2015) called it a seismic shift. The Boomer Generation displayed a penchant for collecting things: cars, big houses, lots and lots of possessions. They thought these possessions were valuable. But their kids don’t want those things. Two big trends are highlighting this shift. First, Boomers as they start to retire, begin to …
The Crazy Plane Ride to Nowhere
“Somewhere between zero and thirty thousand feet, you look out the window, see the people and houses below and you begin to wonder: where am I going? What am I doing?” I heard that quote from a friend of mine who was describing his life on the road. Even now, I’m on a plane. There’s turbulence so everyone is buckled …
The Rise of FamilyArc and Family Legacy
Many have seen my title Founder of FamilyArc. A few responded with questions. It all started during my time leading The Signatry. Families and family-owned businesses began to approach me. They wanted something more. These families were facing issues of thinking through succession. They wondered how their businesses would carry on, how their children would fare, and ultimately what their legacy …
The 4 Types of Giving
Did you know there are at least 4 different kinds of giving? When people think about giving, they usually think about giving to their church, or maybe a missionary. They usually think about giving to an existing organization, but there are other types of giving. There is (1) Systematic giving—regular giving for support typically to an existing organization; (2) Strategic—this …
7 Lessons from the Obituaries
I know. I know. I mean who reads the obituaries. I’m still old fashioned. I get a print newspaper delivered to my house. It’s an old habit. I saw my dad pore over the newspaper. I’m following his way. When I read the paper, particularly the Sunday edition, there’s a large amount dedicated to the obituaries. I know that many …
2 Surprising Keys to Preserving your Family Legacy
Too often when people think about preserving family legacy, they consider two things: preserving financial assets and preparing estate documents that provide for estate tax savings. While those are important elements, they are only true if we determine that family legacy consists only of financial wealth. If we define wealth more broadly to include all forms of wealth—values, work ethic, …
6 Facts for Understanding High Net Worth Giving
A 2014 study by US Trust/Bank of America and the Indiana University Lilly School of business revealed 6 key facts related to high net worth givers: On the positive side, giving by high net worth households increased by 28.1 percent with an average gift of $68,580. On the other hand, giving as a percentage of income declined by 8.7 percent …
Don’t Sell or Trade Your Car – Give It!
Are you in the market for a new car? What will you do with your old one? One of the best options is to consider donating your old car instead of selling or trading it. What most people don’t often realize is how simple the car donation process is. At idonate.com you can donate your car in a few simple …
5 Unusual Christmas Giving Ideas
We are at that time of year where people are hunting for Christmas ideas. The retailers are sure to remind us to find the perfect gift – and to be quick about it. But here’s a few Christmas giving gift ideas: Random Giving – Give every family member $100 at Thanksgiving. Have them give that $100 to someone in need …