Affluent investors who are charitably inclined may have specific philanthropic and estate planning goals in mind, but may not be familiar with the many vehicles and trust structures available to help them implement their goals.In order to choose the most advantageous charitable giving strategy, individuals and families must evaluate a number of factors, such as their need for current income, their desire to control and preserve assets during life and after death, their specific charitable intent and important tax management issues. Donor-advised funds, family foundations, gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts round out the field of essential options that are available to individuals and their families.Donor-advised funds offer convenience and flexibilityA donor-advised fund is a tax-advantaged charitable giving vehicle that offers individuals maximum flexibility to take tax deductions and recommend grants to charitable organizations. By definition, donor-advised funds are public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to such funds are tax deductible.If you are considering a donor-advised fund, sunset rules, administrative fees and management fees should be discussed before you invest.Family foundations – building a legacy, reaping tax benefitsFamily foundations offer an effective way to pursue philanthropic objectives, involve family members in charitable activities and reap tax and estate planning efficiencies.A family foundation derives its assets from the members of a single family, in which the donor and/or the donor’s relatives play a significant role in governing and/or managing the foundation throughout its life. And, as their founders soon realize, family foundations offer potential tax and estate planning benefits. Private foundations vs. In addition, the cost of establishing, staffing and keeping your private foundation legally compliant can be prohibitive.Balance giving goals and financial planningWhile the tax deductions and/or transfer tax benefits associated with most charitable giving vehicles help reduce the cost of making charitable gifts, an individual’s own income or wealth transfer needs often determine his or her ability to give. To address both goals, individuals may want to consider other charitable vehicles such as a charitable remainder trust, a charitable lead trust or a gift annuity.Page 2 of 2 – Including charitable giving strategies in your estate plan can be an effective way for you and your family to enjoy an income stream during your lives, earn tax savings and maintain a significant degree of control over assets – all while fulfilling your charitable goals. Please note, taxes will be due on the income stream provided.If you are creating a charitable giving plan, consider seeking the guidance of an attorney, accountant or other trusted professional who is familiar with tax laws and legal intricacies. mainImageContainerInnerHTML_sm += ”+htmlencode(mainImageData_caption)+”; $(‘#art-main-image-credit-container_sm’).css(‘width’,smimgwidth).css(‘padding’,’3px ‘+(mainImageData_leftPadding – 3)+’px 0 0’);