Charitable giving offers an individual the opportunity to direct how his or her “social capital”—that portion of one’s estate that would be otherwise distributed through our tax system—can be directed. Without a charitable giving component to an estate plan, the government will determine how the social capital is distributed. I am Richard A. Sarner of Zeldes, Needle & Cooper, P.C., and by working carefully with clients, I can meet a number of their needs, including making sure that a beloved charity receives much-needed funds, involving their beneficiaries in that charity, and creating an income stream for their beneficiaries through a charitable remainder trust (CRT).
Charitable gift planning can include creating family foundations, donating directly to the charity, or using a charitable trust. I also work with nonprofit organizations, schools and foundations, putting in place charitable legacies by designing Planned Giving solutions, which benefit the family and the charity to the fullest extent.
I work to ensure that the client’s estate planning reflects his or her core values. I offer individual solutions and personal service. At the same time, because I am a member of WealthCounsel, Esq, and the Wealth Strategies Collaborative®, I have access to the extensive resources of a much larger firm. My main areas of estate planning practice include wealth transfer, asset protection planning, insurance planning, and more.
With more than 25 years of experience in estate planning, I have attained the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell® AV rating* and am listed in the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™. In addition, I have co-authored the books, “Giving: Philanthropy for Everyone,” (Quantum Press, 2002) and “Love, Money, Control: Reinventing Estate Planning—Practical Answers from America’s Foremost Estate Planning Advisors,” (Quantum Press, 2004) and lecture on a number of estate planning topics.
If you are interested in making charitable giving part of your estate plan, contact me, experienced estate planning attorney Richard A. Sarner, in Stamford, Connecticut.