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Estate Planning Lies We Tell Ourselves INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. 2. Make 2026 Your Healthiest Year Yet
Make Your Estate and Finances Speak the Same Language
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Turn Cold Nights Into Warm Memories
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Why Financial Advisors Should Be Talking About QCDs Right Now
A Better Way to Make an Impact
As estate planning professionals, we often identify opportunities that financial advisors overlook. One of the most powerful yet underutilized tools for clients with IRAs is the Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD. Many advisors assume charitable giving from retirement accounts is limited to posthumous planning, but the reality is far more flexible and valuable. HOW QCDS UNLOCK VALUE A QCD allows a direct transfer from an eligible IRA to a qualified 501(c)(3) charity. Because the distribution is not counted as taxable income, it can significantly reduce a client’s tax liability while satisfying required minimum distributions (RMDs). In 2025, individuals could give up to $108,000, and married couples filing jointly could give up to $216,000. This strategy works regardless of whether the client itemizes deductions. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT QCD ELIGIBILITY Clients must be at least 70 1/2 to use QCDs, and only certain accounts qualify: Traditional IRAs, Rollover IRAs, Inactive SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and Inherited IRAs
an eligible IRA. Additionally, not all charities are eligible. Private foundations, donor-advised funds, and organizations that provide goods or services in exchange for donations do not qualify, so careful verification is essential. WHY ADVISORS SHOULD PAY ATTENTION QCDs provide a unique opportunity to align philanthropic goals with tax efficiency. When your clients direct charitable gifts directly from retirement accounts, they lower their taxable income, potentially reduce Medicare surcharges, and satisfy RMD obligations in one streamlined move. For financial advisors, understanding this tool allows you to enhance your client service and open conversations about long-term wealth and legacy planning. QCDs serve as a bridge between retirement planning and meaningful philanthropy. When financial advisors and estate planning professionals collaborate, clients gain a fully integrated approach that protects their wealth, advances their charitable goals, and strengthens their legacy. The key is awareness and thoughtful application, and that is where your expertise and ours intersect.
QCDS ARE CHANGING CHARITABLE PLANNING
Most Roth IRAs and active employer-sponsored plans typically do not qualify unless rolled into
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