By New York Times Bestselling Author Michael Levin You’re a generous person. You take care of the needs of your family, you give annually to your favorite charities, and you love to see those deductions reduce your tax bill. But as a result of the recent changes to the tax code, you probably are no [...]
America is experiencing a growing interest in genealogy. There are even TV shows on the subject, and one common theme is that our memory and knowledge of family is fragile. We’re lucky if it extends three generations. Do you know your parents’ cousins’ children? Why is it that family ties so easily come undone? Part [...]
A donor-advised fund can help you maximize the power of your philanthropy. Many of us procrastinate until the last minute to consider donating to charities at year-end. If this describes you, don’t feel bad, you’re in good company. But you can do something about it. A donor advised fund can help you with both short [...]
Some people already have a fairly good idea as to where they’d like to direct their philanthropic giving. But given the wide array of social, scientific research, and environmental needs, many others find it difficult to decide on a specific area of grantmaking from their donor-advised fund. Should you make grants to organizations that support researching [...]
A report published in 2012 by Pew Research Center shows that fully 50% of successful individuals worry that their children, or other heirs, do not have the proper financial skills to handle inherited wealth. If half are concerned about this, it’s likely that the other half should be. In 1877, when Cornelius Vanderbilt died, he [...]
Americans are known around the world for their generosity. Giving is part of our very nature. Unique among nations, this reputation for caring predates the Declaration of Independence. Americans give generously of their treasure. In 2016, Americans gave nearly $400 billion to charity. In perspective, that is $100 billion more than Americans spent on prescription [...]
Regardless of their size, most businesses have some sort of mission statement meant to guide the focus and general intent of their daily activities. But it’s not only the typical business that benefits from the clarity of a mission statement. Many non-conventional organizations, as well as sole proprietorships, have them: poetry websites, yoga studios, and classic [...]
Are your kids suffering from too well off syndrome? If so, how do you turn things around? You, like so many successful individuals, have a nagging concern about teaching your children and grandchildren the mindset and skills to handle the challenges that come with inherited wealth. Simply growing up watching you make sound financial decisions [...]
“Choose well. Your choice is brief, and yet endless.” ~Goethe What does the word “legacy” mean to you? Most people, when asked this question might say that legacy refers to what a person leaves behind, such as wealth and other assets. While this is a part of what makes up a person’s legacy, this perception [...]
How do you define success? Ask 10 different people this question and you’re likely to get 10 different definitions. The typical dictionary definition characterizes success as “an accomplishment of a goal or purpose.” While this is true, by necessity it leaves out details individuals like you and me associate with a successful life. The missing [...]