February 7, 2017

With just a little planning, you can have peace of mind knowing you have taken care of your family and secured their future.

One of the most effective ways to care for your family is with a current estate plan. If you own property, have dependents or have recently experienced life changes (marriages, divorces, births, deaths, etc.), you will want to visit an estate planning attorney to create or update your will and trust documents.

The good news is there is much planning you can do without ever visiting an attorney. For example, you can designate a beneficiary for your retirement assets and insurance plans typically by completing a simple form. You can also add a family member to your savings, checking or investment account and your funds will pass automatically to them when you pass away.

If you are especially concerned about taxes, contact us to see about including the Texas A&M Foundation in your plans can help you leave your legacy, while also reducing taxes for yourself and your family. There are many ways to protect and provide for your loved ones and you can view different options on our website.

Our book Provide & Protect will provide you with choices on how you can provide for your loved ones, receive tax benefits, generate potential retirement income and support Texas A&M at the same time. We also offer a free estate and gift planning guide to assist you. Information in this kit includes a workbook, suggested beneficiary language and more information on how to give back and support Texas A&M University. To discuss how a planned gift to the Texas A&M Foundation might benefit the university, you and your family, contact Angela Throne ’03 in the Office of Gift Planning at (800) 392-3310, (979) 845-5638 or athrone@txamfoundation.com.

The information provided in and accompanying this article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal or tax advice. You are encouraged to consult with your attorney for assistance in drafting the necessary documents to make a charitable gift.