Charitable deductions

While donating stock is a clear win for clients to avoid capital gains taxes, gifts of property require a qualified appraisal to get a deduction.

Roy Swan of the Ford Foundation said the simplest implication of his new book may be a nudge toward donor-advised funds. But he argues for a deeper examination of popular assumptions around figures like Adam Smith and Milton Friedman.

The American College of Financial Services is launching a certification program to train financial professionals on the ins and outs of donor-advised funds.

Charitable remainder annuity trusts can be helpful, but advisors should be careful to follow new guidance issued by the IRS and U.S. Treasury Department.