Through estate planning your gifts can keep on giving.
Legacies.
Everyone has one.
Some are positive.
Some are negative.
According to a recent Hays Post article titled “Estate of Bob Schmidt will benefit health care now and in the future,” Bob Schmidt left a positive legacy.
How?
Through estate planning.
He left $500,000 to the HaysMed Foundation.
This gift was invested and will now continue to grow and provide funds for the foundation.
Why did he choose this foundation?
Schmidt served not only on the Hays Medical Center Board of Directors, but also on the HaysFoundation Board of Directors itself.
As such, he was well aware of the medical needs in Hays and the surrounding areas.
Although Schmidt and his late wife Pat (they were married for nearly 69 years) were known for being altruistic in life, he did not let his death stop his generosity to the medical needs of the community.
Instead, he chose to use his death to help others through his estate planning.
Because of his gift, the Hays Medical Center will be able to work on special projects and purchase new and necessary equipment.
Thanks to that gift, the fundraising goal of $3 million was met in the Powerful Technology Campaign.
To remember the generosity of Schmidt, the cancer institute at HaysMed was named in his honor and in honor of another set of donors.
You do not need to be a millionaire to leave gifts to charity.
If charitable giving is something you would like to do, work with an experienced estate planning attorney.
He or she will be able to help you create a legacy with your estate plan.
So, how do you find an "experienced" estate planning attorney?
First, ask around. Friends, family and other professional advisors are trustworthy sources.
Second, conduct an "organic" search on "Google" for "estate planning" near you (e.g., "Estate Planning Anytown MoKan").
Third, either way, verify! Check out the education, experience, ratings and client reviews of any attorney before you contact him or her.
How?
Two helpful online resources are just a mouse click away to assist with your due diligence: Avvo.com and Lawyers.com.
Check any Avvo ratings, client ratings/testimonials and attorney endorsements on Avvo.com and any "peer ratings" by judges/other attorneys and any client ratings/testimonials on Lawyers.com.
In fact, I use both of these services to thoroughly vett attorneys before referring members of our "client" family for legal help in other areas of law or for matters in jurisdictions outside Kansas or Missouri.
Remember: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When making your financial, tax and estate plans, do not go it alone. Be sure to engage competent professional counsel.
Reference: Hays Post (December 20, 2017) “Estate of Bob Schmidt will benefit health care now and in the future”
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