The Gift of Clarity
For families able to give during their lifetimes, a clear framework helps guide how much to give and when.
It all begins with your financial plan.
A thoughtfully constructed plan offers a reliable estimate of what you’ll need to cover your living expenses, including more costly possibilities like healthcare, long-term care, and living longer than expected. Once you know that number, any amount beyond it is surplus.
This surplus becomes the foundation for your giving decisions.
If your surplus is modest, gifting might focus on meaningful, smaller gifts at key moments—a grandchild’s graduation, helping a child with a home down payment, or supporting a valued charitable cause.
If the surplus is larger, your strategy could include annual exclusion gifts, paying tuition or medical bills directly, donating through donor-advised funds or qualified charitable distributions, and other methods to share wealth while you’re here to see its impact.
In both cases, identifying surplus shifts the question from “can we afford this?” to “how do we want to use this?”
That shift is a true privilege. It opens the door to thoughtful giving grounded in confidence and intention.
If you ever want to talk through something you read here or have a question about your own situation, you’re welcome to schedule a brief, free Q&A conversation: CLICK HERE
Take care and, as always, stay the course.
Colburn Wealth Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.