Leaving a Legacy
Did you know that more Americans give to charity than vote?¹ Charitable giving is getting more attention lately as people are discovering they don’t have to be millionaires to make a difference by donating to their favorite charities. You can help clients satisfy their social conscience by educating them on giving opportunities. Here are five reasons why you should keep clients informed of charitable giving options that are available to them.

Let clients know you put their wishes first. Clients want to know you’re working for them and aiming toward their goals. If you can help them leave a legacy by contributing to their favorite cause, you can build trust into established, or burgeoning, client relationships.

Networking
Conversations about philanthropy can lead to opportunities to network with family members, CPAs, attorneys, donors, trust officers, or officials from charitable organizations.

Well Rounded Office
Offering charitable giving as an option to clients gives you a more comprehensive practice and can round out the level of expertise your practice offers.

Create Awareness
You should feel comfortable asking your clients about charitable gifting. Many people have charities in mind they would like to donate to, but don’t think they have sufficient funds to make a difference. With the right positioning of assets, you can help uncover those funds and allocate them appropriately.

Efficiency of Funds
According to statistics, many clients are already giving to their favorite charities and may not be aware of more efficient or strategic ways of doing so. This is an excellent opportunity for positioning life insurance.

Tax Deductions
Tax benefits are an obvious starting point for opening a dialogue around charitable giving, but remember to focus on the goals of the individual you are working with and the opportunity to leave a legacy for their family or community.

Inspire your clients to make a difference in their community or an organization that is important to them and help them outline the impact that their giving can have. By helping them reach their goals for leaving a legacy and helping others, you will be able to strengthen your client relationships.

If you are planning to work with a charitable organization, we have marketing materials for you to use when presenting to the corresponding board of directors. Call your sales team today for more information on charitable gifting.

Producers Talk Back
We are adding a new feature to the Tip of the Week to allow you to exchange ideas with other producers. This week’s Talk Back topic is “Charitable Giving.” What type of giving opportunities does your practice offer? Do you encourage giving by donating to your local community? How does your office promote charitable giving for those who may have an interest? Send us your thoughts: editor@assetmarketingsystems.net

We will be adding your comments and ideas to future issues of the AMS Weekly.

¹ Bond, Sharon. U.S. Charitable Giving Reaches $295.02 Billion in 2006. GivingUSA. 25 June 2007. 10 Oct. 2007 <http://www.givingusa.org/press_releases/gusa/20070625.pdf>.

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