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Why Today Is the Best Time to Create a Charitable Lead Trust

If you want to provide an inheritance to your children and make a significant charitable gift through your estate, a charitable lead trust can help you accomplish both objectives—and now is the best time to establish this type of gift.

Lead trusts are attractive in low interest rate environments, and for August 2016, the IRS has announced a discount rate at 1.5 percent. The lower the discount rate, the greater your deduction. This is the lowest rate that the IRS has established since July 2013.

The basics. You transfer appreciating assets into a trust you create with the intention of supporting Northwestern first and then returning the remaining assets to family. This vehicle allows you to transfer assets to family, benefitting Northwestern, and taking advantage of possible tax advantages.

Learn more about charitable lead trusts.

Contact the Office of Gift Planning at 800-826-6709 or giftplanning@northwestern.edu today about creating your charitable lead trust while the discount rate is at a low 1.5 percent, resulting in the most favorable deduction for you!