September 2005
. . . the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation website has information to help educate you on all the possible ways you can prepare your estate to benefit your family and the organizations you care about. These are the newest articles on the site this month:

How much do you know about wills? Take our new quiz, "Q & A: Creating a Better Will" and find out.

A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is a special way to make a charitable gift, provide a stream of payments to yourself or a loved one, and enjoy some tax benefits. Read "Steps in Creating a Charitable Remainder Trust" to help you (and your charitable beneficiaries) maximize this method of giving.

If you are considering making a gift to the Foundation, your wisest choice may not be a gift of cash. By donating cash, you are giving away income for which you have already been taxed. A more beneficial alternative may be to donate an asset that has increased significantly in value, such as stock, which carries a hidden liability in the form of capital gains. Learn more about the rhyme and reason of donations in "When Cashing in Does Not Pay."

If you're considering making some type of charitable donation, we suggest you make a plan and consider all the possibilities, including your personal needs, income tax deductions, and the needs of our organization. Review the helpful tips that you'll find in "Analyze Your Personal Needs Before You Give."

Don't forget to read our new monthly feature, Golden Strategies. Unearth bright ideas through a simple Q&A forum. Golden Strategies has answers to questions relevant to today's seniors and their lifestyles.

And, take a peek at the free ebrochures we offer. Go to the article titled "Discover Valuable Lessons With Our Free ebrochures" to find out more.