The Surprising Instance Where Cash Isn’t King
Two men went fishing at a nearby pond. They brought poles, bait, and supplies to cook their catch over a fire. The first fisherman quickly caught a big, beautiful fish, but the second man went hours without a single bite. Finally, his bobber disappeared. He reeled in a huge fish…only to immediately throw it back.
Bewildered, his friend asked, “Why did you let him go?” The second fisherman replied, “He was nice, but I didn’t bring a pan large enough to cook him!”
It seems silly, but many of us live like the second fisherman—so fixated on a particular outcome or limitation we miss the obvious opportunities in front of us. We want to make a lasting and generous difference in the world, but we don’t think we have the financial means to do it.
In many instances, “cash is king.” When it comes to charitable giving, however, retirement assets are often overlooked, swimming with possibility, and just waiting to be caught. Some experts talk about qualified retirement plans as “the most significant yet underutilized category” of all giving options.
When you look beyond liquid assets and cast out into the pond of IRA or retirement assets, you’ll have an opportunity to give in a way that:
- Increases your impact. A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a gift from your IRA to causes close to your heart. Those age 70.5 or older with a traditional IRA are eligible to make a QCD. Those age 73 or older can satisfy their required minimum distribution and avoid taxes on that distribution.
- Simplifies your giving. Naming a charity as the beneficiary of your IRA is one of the easiest ways to make a difference beyond your lifetime. It also spares your heirs a tax burden.
- Leaves a legacy. When you include a charitable gift in your estate plan to a ministry you’re passionate about, it helps to not only “supply the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12). It’s a beautiful part of the legacy you’ll leave behind.
If you’re looking for a way to maximize your generosity and make a splash for generations to come, don’t overlook the value of a gift from your retirement assets.
Click here for resources and a place to start.
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