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You Can Benefit from a Charitable Trust
Regardless of your financial situation,
you should know about estate planning.
Estate planning ensures that
upon your death, you and your assets go
to the people and places you choose. Your
assets may include checking and savings
accounts, stocks, bonds, your home and
other possessions.
WHAT IS A TRUST?
One of the common “tools” in estate planning
is a trust. In a trust, you agree to give control
of your assets to a person or company, called
a trustee. The trustee oversees the distribution
of your assets to the beneficiary. The beneficiary
could be a person, a qualified organization
— such as a foundation, hospital or
other charity — or both. You can even choose
to be the beneficiary of your trust. When
you choose a nonprofit organization, such as
Memorial Hermann, as your beneficiary, this
is referred to as a charitable trust.
WHY CHOOSE A CHARITABLE TRUST?
If you decide on a charitable trust, you can help
Memorial Hermann while maintaining your
financial security. With these trusts, you can:
- Receive a charitable income tax deduction
- Avoid capital gains tax — a tax on assets
that have increased in value
- Receive a regular income
- Help your family avoid probate, a legal
process to settle wills, so your assets do not
become public record
- Gain the satisfaction of helping others
The Memorial Hermann Foundation
serves as the fund-raising branch of the
Memorial Hermann Healthcare System.
Philanthropic gifts can benefit a specific
hospital program, capital expansion project,
clinical service or other specified area, and
individual donations can also be made in
honor or remembrance of a beloved family
member or friend. Gifts can also recognize a
physician, nurse or caregiver.
For more information
on ways to give, call
the Memorial Hermann
Foundation at 713-448-5200.
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