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For many people, two common estate planning goals are contributing to a favorite charity and leaving significant assets to your family under favorable tax terms. A charitable remainder trust (CRT) can help you achieve both goals.

ABCs of CRTs

Typically, you set up one of two CRT types (described below) and fund it with assets such as cash and securities. The trust then pays out income to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries — perhaps yourself or your spouse — for life or a term of 20 years or less. The CRT then distributes the remaining assets to one or more charities.

When using a CRT, you may be eligible for a current tax deduction based on several factors. They include the value of the assets at the time of the transfer, the ages of the income beneficiaries and the government’s Section 7520 rate. Generally, the greater the payout to you (and consequently, the lower the amount that ultimately goes to charity), the lower the deduction.

2 flavors of CRTs

There are two types of CRTs, each with its own pros and cons:

• A charitable remainder annuity trust (CRAT) pays out a fixed percentage (ranging from 5% to 50%) of the trust’s initial value and doesn’t allow additional contributions once it’s funded.
• A charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) pays out a fixed percentage (ranging from 5% to 50%) of the trust’s value, recalculated annually, and allows additional contributions.

CRATs offer the advantage of uniform payouts, regardless of fluctuations in the trust’s value. CRUTs, on the other hand, allow payouts to keep pace with inflation because they increase as the trust’s value increases. And, as noted, CRUTs allow you to make additional contributions. One potential disadvantage of a CRUT is that payouts shrink if the trust’s value declines.

Who to choose as a trustee?

When setting up a CRT, appoint a trustee to manage the trust’s assets. The trustee should be someone with the requisite financial knowledge and a familiarity with your personal situation. Thus, it could be a professional or an entity, a family member, or a close friend.

Because of the potentially significant dollars at stake, many trust creators opt for a professional who specializes in managing trust assets. If you’re leaning in this direction, interview several candidates and choose the best one for your situation, considering factors such as experience, investment performance and the level of services provided.

Know that a trustee must adhere to the terms of the trust and follow your instructions. Thus, you still maintain some control if someone else handles these duties. For instance, you may retain the right to change the trustee if you become dissatisfied or designate a different charity to receive the remainder assets.

Finally, be aware that a CRT is irrevocable. In other words, you can’t undo it once it’s executed. So, you must be fully committed to this approach before taking the plunge. Contact us to learn whether a CRT might be a good fit to achieve your estate planning goals.

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