I began my soccer journey in seventh grade, playing through high school and college. Even after college, I continued playing in adult indoor and outdoor soccer leagues. My decision to continue playing was simple: as long as I contributed positively to my team and had fun, I would stay in the game. However, just before turning 49, I faced the realization that my frustration after games was outweighing the joy,… Read More

As we turn the page on 2023 and look forward to 2024, many people take the opportunity of a new year to make changes in their lives. They formulate personal goals and create an agenda of things that they want to accomplish in the new year. This can be a very positive, motivational experience. We are big fans of setting goals! Here is the challenge: while setting goals is easy,… Read More

Today’s blog post, Split-Interest Gifts, is the last entry of our 4th Quarter Blog Series, 5 Ways to be Generous Before Year-End. We hope this series has been thought-provoking and may have challenged you to explore additional ways to give! Split-Interest Gifts are unique in that they offer ongoing benefits to the giver, while benefiting the ministry or charitable organization of choice. The donor will typically receive an up-front tax deduction &… Read More

For part 4 of our year-end blog series on generosity, we will explore one of the most flexible giving vehicles available, the Donor Advised Fund (DAF). A Donor Advised Fund allows a taxpayer to give a current-year gift that does not have to be given directly to the charities in that same tax year. This can be a useful tax planning tool for those who want to make gifts before… Read More

Many of us have been brought up with the adage, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” I was raised in a household where my parents committed around 10% of their income to the church, instilling in me the value of giving back. The concept of regularly contributing a portion of my earnings to charity was a tangible way to show gratitude for the blessings in my life…. Read More

Two weeks ago, Garry introduced our fourth quarter blog series where we will cover various strategies for accomplishing charitable giving goals. At Master’s, we believe in heartfelt generosity rather than treating giving solely as a tax planning tool. However, integrating tax strategies can help us fulfill our charitable goals more efficiently. Last week, Jon’s blog gave us some great “cash giving” ideas. Today’s blog post will explore the 2nd tax-efficient… Read More

  Last week, Garry introduced our fourth quarter blog series where we will cover various strategies for accomplishing charitable giving goals. At Master’s, we believe in heartfelt generosity rather than treating giving solely as a tax planning tool. However, integrating tax strategies can help us fulfill our charitable goals more efficiently. Let’s dive into the first strategy: cash giving. Cash giving is a familiar method, but there are ways to… Read More

  Our 4th Quarter blog series will center around the themes of giving and generosity as the year comes to a close. At Master’s, we emphasize the importance of giving out of a genuine desire to be generous, rather than solely for a particular tax break or advantage. Nevertheless, if you wish to express generosity, we are dedicated to carefully planning how to maximize the tax benefits associated with your… Read More

Congratulations are in order! You have weathered one of the worst bond markets ever recorded! The US 10-year Treasury Bond is poised to show negative returns for three consecutive calendar years (2021-2023). This phenomenon has never happened before. This news may cause some investors to consider getting rid of their bond investments. Would that be prudent? Certainly not! Let’s take a closer look. First, we will look at the “see-saw… Read More

In the financial world, there are two distinct ways to approach decision-making: proactive and reactive. The choice between these methods can significantly influence your financial future. In this post, we will dive into both approaches and provide practical tips for proactive financial management. Reactive Financial Management Reactive financial management involves making impromptu decisions when unexpected financial surprises arise. Unfortunately, this approach can pose challenges, particularly when emotions are high. Quick… Read More