A charitable remainder trust offers three advantages:

• The donor receives an immediate tax deduction
• The donor removes assets from the estate, avoiding or reducing inheritance or estate taxes later
• The donor, or designated beneficiary, can receive a lifetime of income from the irrevocable gift.

There are two different types of charitable remainder trusts: unitrust and annuity.

A charitable remainder unitrust is a popular way to achieve tax benefits as well as a fixed annual percentage on the value of the assets in the trust. The assets are revalued annually and, if the trust value changes, the payment to the beneficiary changes.

A charitable remainder annuity trust is set up to pay a fixed rate of return based on the initial valuation at the time the property is placed in the trust. The trust assets are never revalued.

Charitable Remainder Trusts provide a good degree of flexibility that is valuable in charitable gift planning.

Please note, individual financial circumstances will vary. As with all tax and estate planning, please consult your attorney or estate specialist.