Legacy Leaders Network

Tips of the Week!

Trivia Question❓

What major philanthropic pledge, launched in 2010, encourages billionaires to commit at least half of their wealth to charitable causes?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

How to Help Clients Build Philanthropic Legacies

Advisors play a vital role in helping clients create lasting philanthropic legacies that align with their values and vision. These conversations go beyond tax efficiency—they’re about purpose, impact, and the legacy clients want to leave behind.

Start by understanding what drives your client. Ask open-ended questions about the causes they care about, the communities they want to support, or the change they hope to inspire. Often, people have philanthropic desires but haven’t thought through how to structure them. That’s where you step in.

Introduce vehicles like donor-advised funds (DAFs), private foundations, or charitable trusts, each offering different levels of control, flexibility, and involvement. Some clients may want a family foundation to involve future generations, while others may prefer the simplicity and anonymity of a DAF.

Encourage clients to document their intentions, whether through a charitable mission statement or a giving plan that can evolve over time. It’s also important to discuss how to balance giving with personal financial goals—legacy planning should never compromise long-term security.

Philanthropy can also be a powerful teaching tool. When clients involve children or grandchildren in charitable discussions, they pass on values as well as wealth.

Ultimately, helping clients shape a philanthropic legacy is about more than transferring money—it’s about helping them find meaning, make a difference, and ensure their story carries on for generations. By guiding these conversations with care and clarity, you position yourself as a trusted partner in one of life’s most meaningful decisions.

💡 Answer to Trivia Question:

The Giving Pledge—started by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, it invites the world’s wealthiest individuals to publicly commit to giving the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.