Give More to Charity. Pay Less in Taxes. Here's How.

Charitable giving can be about much more than simply writing a check. When planned correctly, giving can also play an important role in tax planning, retirement planning, investment strategy, and even family legacy.In this episode, David and Marlana break down several strategies that can help make charitable giving more tax-efficient and purposeful. They discuss Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), donor-advised funds, charitable remainder trusts, giving appreciated assets, and how charitable planning can fit into a broader financial and estate plan. They also talk about the role charitable giving can play in teaching children about generosity, creating a family legacy, and supporting organizations that matter to you.Whether you're retired, approaching retirement, sitting on highly appreciated assets, or simply looking for smarter ways to give, this conversation offers several strategies worth knowing.00:00 - Introduction: Why charitable giving matters00:59 - Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from an IRA01:44 - Why keeping taxable income lower can matter02:37 ‎- Giving, stewardship, and the bigger purpose behind philanthropy04:01 - Making charitable giving more tax-efficient05:25 - Donor-Advised Funds: A strategy for major income years06:17 - How a Donor-Advised Fund can let you give over time07:33 - Giving highly appreciated stocks or real estate08:01 - How a Charitable Remainder Trust works08:31 - Avoiding a large capital-gains event while creating income08:52 - Receiving income from a charitable trust09:14 - What happens to the assets when the trust ends?10:05 - What about leaving money to your children?11:26 - A real-world example of a Charitable Remainder Trust12:21 - Why charitable trusts don't pass the assets directly to heirs12:31 - Family foundations, private foundations, and teaching generosity13:35 - Charitable giving and college foundations14:16 - Giving appreciated stock to charitable organizations14:22 - Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts (CRATs)14:57 - A real-life example involving multiple charitable trusts15:21 - How charitable annuity trusts work after the donor's lifetime16:01 - Wrapping up: The "alphabet soup" of charitable strategies