Sharpe Blog

As the saying goes, “age may have its privileges,” but in our current environment of low interest rates, don’t even try to establish a 5% charitable remainder annuity trust (CRAT)—the lowest payout rate permitted—unless: The donor is at least age 76. (For a two-life trust, at least one of the income beneficiaries must be age …Read More

Little things I should have said and done I just never took the time You were always on my mind (you were always on my mind) You were always on my mind –Willie Nelson (Always on My Mind) This is part four of our series of navigating in these times of great change. In the …Read More

The COVID-19-triggered financial recession underscores for businesses and individuals the need to hold sufficient cash to ride out the tumult. For individuals with cash, or access to it, there are planning opportunities. With the equity markets well off their highs, now is an especially attractive time to consider a Roth conversion as part of retirement …Read More

During this ongoing crisis with COVID-19, many of your donors may be sitting at home as well and could be thinking about their own mortality. Some online planning websites for wills have seen dramatic increases in traffic for those who want to update their plans. Yet some of your older donors may not be so …Read More

I waited patiently for the Lord He inclined and heard my cry He brought me up out of the pit Out of the mire and clay I will sing, sing a new song –U2 (40) In the previous blogs, we discussed the importance of showing kindness to ourselves and others and the importance of togetherness …Read More

An unfortunate side effect of the coronavirus pandemic has been an uptick of scams looking to exploit the fear and uncertainty many of us are feeling. Those most vulnerable are seniors, who are often the target of scammers, especially now as they are most vulnerable to the virus itself. As charitable organizations, it is important …Read More

The CARES Act allows individuals to deduct up to 100% of income in 2020 using charitable gifts of cash.1 To get this treatment, the deductible charitable gift must be a “qualified contribution.” What is a qualified contribution? First, the taxpayer must elect this treatment for the gift.2 Also, the gift can’t go to a donor …Read More

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand We all need somebody to lean on I just might have a problem that you’ll understand We all need somebody to lean on Lean on me, when you’re not strong And I’ll be your friend I’ll help you carry on For it won’t be …Read More

Some former crises: 1974: OPEC surfaces…gasoline jumps to $1 per gallon…people start stealing food. 1976: Swine flu…the virus crisis that wasn’t. 1987: A 20% one-day drop in the Dow. The painful crises of the 1970s and 1980s are mostly forgotten. The current crisis, I expect, is going to have long-lasting effects, like the Great Depression. …Read More

Sharpe clients are asking about planned giving marketing efforts. Asking if they should hold off and delay until the COVID-19 crisis has passed. We are not in as uncharted territory as some might think. A recent article in Financial Advisor IQ reports that attorneys are being inundated with requests to prepare wills, trusts and other …Read More