Top 10 Things You Can do to Leave a Legacy

1. Prepare a will. Only half of those who pass away have one. Without a will, you lose control of the possessions you worked a lifetime to acquire.

2. Leave a gift in your will for the local charitable organizations that made a difference in your life. Less than 3% of all wills settled contain a charitable provision. Imagine the positive impact on our community if everyone made even a modest donation to a favorite local non-profit organization.

3. Leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage of the assets in your will to your favorite local charity. The provision can be a part of your will or added as a codicil to your existing will.

4. Name your favorite local charity as the beneficiary of your IRA or pension plan.

5. Consider using assets for your charitable gift. These can include (but are not limited to) stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, real estate, vehicles, art and jewelry. Such gifts may even provide tax savings.

6. Name your favorite local charity as the beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy.

7. Purchase a new life insurance policy naming your favorite local charity as beneficiary.

8. Remember deceased loved ones with memorial gifts to local charities in your will.

9. Encourage family members and friends to leave gifts to local charities in their wills.

10. Ask your financial advisor to include charitable giving as part of their counsel to other clients.