Charitable giving strategies for meaningful impact
From donor-advised funds to QCDs and appreciated stock gifts, we help you give with purpose while maximizing tax benefits and keeping your retirement plan on track.
How giving fits your plan
Give with intention and confidence
Many Texas families want generosity to be part of their legacy. Wealth Solutions helps you support causes in Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi while keeping your retirement secure. We coordinate gift timing, assets, and tax treatment so you can give more effectively. When giving affects heirs or documents, we loop in estate planning to keep everything aligned.
Active management vs. passive
Why we choose active oversight
Index funds have a place, but retirees in Texas often benefit from active decisions that balance income needs with risk. We don’t chase every market move; we make informed adjustments to manage drawdowns and capture opportunity. This hands-on approach is led by Richard Blair and reflected in our proprietary funds as well as individual securities where appropriate.
From paperwork to portfolio in one plan
How the rollover works
Review your accounts
We inventory plans and balances, including any 401(k), 403(b), SIMPLE, or governmental 457 assets, plus employer stock considerations.
Compare options
Keep funds in the old plan, roll to a new employer plan, or move to an IRA. We outline costs, creditor protections, and flexibility.
Choose IRA and investments
If an IRA is best, we set up the account and design an allocation that fits your broader plan.
Handle the paperwork
We coordinate a trustee-to-trustee transfer to avoid withholding and the 60-day rule.
Reinvest and align
Once assets arrive, we implement the strategy and connect it to your household plan in your client portal.
Simple structure, flexible grants
Why donor-advised funds work
A donor-advised fund lets you take a deduction now and recommend grants over time. You can contribute appreciated stock, bunch several years of gifts, and choose anonymity if preferred. We help select a provider, fund the account, and plan multi-year granting that fits your cash flow.
Qualified Charitable Distributions
Use IRA dollars for direct impact
If you are 70½ or older, you can send up to $100,000 per year from an IRA directly to qualified charities. The amount does not count as taxable income and can satisfy RMDs. We coordinate paperwork with your custodian and ensure charities receive funds correctly. For a fuller tax view, see tax planning for how QCDs fit your annual strategy.
Charitable Trusts & Foundations
Trusts and private foundations
For sizable or specialized goals, we explore charitable remainder trusts, lead trusts, or a private foundation. These tools can provide income, control, and privacy. We coordinate with your attorney and CPA to evaluate costs, benefits, and fit.
Life Insurance For Legacy
Using insurance to offset gifts
Some donors pair large charitable gifts with life insurance to replace value for heirs. We review policy types, premiums, and ownership structures and coordinate with your advisor team so the plan stays coherent across accounts and documents.
Give the right asset at the right time
Strategies for tax-informative giving
Gifting appreciated securities often beats cash since you avoid capital gains and still receive a deduction. We analyze lots with the highest gains, plan timing around your bracket, and align grants with your annual goals. For investment context, revisit investment management to see how gifting positions fits your portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequent Questions on Tax Planning
What are the tax rules on investment advisory fees now?
Since recent tax law changes, most individuals cannot deduct investment advisory fees on Schedule A. However, certain entities and trusts may still deduct them, and paying eligible fees from an IRA can effectively use pre-tax dollars. We’ll show the most efficient way to handle fees in your situation and coordinate with your CPA.
Should I do a Roth conversion this year or wait?
It depends on your current and future tax brackets, Medicare IRMAA thresholds, and timing of Social Security and RMDs. We typically model partial conversions in lower-income years or after market pullbacks to reduce the tax cost and improve future tax-free flexibility.
How do Qualified Charitable Distributions lower my taxes?
If you are at least 70½, a QCD lets you send money directly from an IRA to a qualified charity. The amount can count toward your RMD but is excluded from your adjusted gross income, which may help with Medicare brackets and the taxation of Social Security. We handle the paperwork and confirm eligibility.
What is the best way to manage capital gains each year?
We review taxable accounts to harvest losses that offset gains, realize long-term gains in lower brackets when available, and avoid short-term gains where possible. We also use asset location and holding periods to keep your after-tax return on track.
How can I avoid Medicare IRMAA surcharges in retirement?
IRMAA is based on your modified adjusted gross income from two years prior. We plan withdrawals, Roth conversions, and capital gains with those thresholds in mind, sometimes spreading income across years or using QCDs so your MAGI stays in a target range.