The vast majority of high-net-worth (HNW) traders wish to make a distinction—even when they received’t get a tax break for it. Research present that the majority of those traders—usually outlined as these with a internet value of at the least $5 million—view charitable giving as intertwined with their general wealth technique and never as an exercise motivated by tax advantages. In the event you have a tendency to emphasise the tax implications of assorted gifting methods upfront, it’s possible you’ll wish to change the way you method charitable planning conversations with HNW shoppers.
By wanting into the various ways in which new HNW shoppers can provide to a trigger they care about, you’ve a possibility to get to know what issues to them at the beginning of the connection whereas serving to them take a holistic view of how their philanthropy is tied to their wealth planning.
Some traders will come to those talks with particular causes in thoughts, typically due to a private connection (equivalent to their alma mater, a household sickness, or a group group). Others will need assist determining what ought to matter to them presently of their life.
To fulfill them the place they’re, let’s talk about how HNW traders usually method charitable giving and how one can assist them be strategic of their philanthropy efforts.
What Motivates Philanthropic HNW Traders?
On the whole, charitable giving is a prime precedence for this group of traders, whereas tax planning is towards the underside of the checklist. In a 2022 BNY Mellon Wealth Administration survey of 200 HNW traders, 91 p.c of respondents stated they embrace a charitable giving technique of their general wealth technique.

In one other research of prosperous traders performed by Financial institution of America and Indiana College, 72.1 p.c stated their charitable giving would keep the identical even when the revenue tax deduction have been eradicated, and 73.3 p.c stated their giving wouldn’t change if the property tax have been eradicated. The survey additionally reported that 88 p.c of prosperous households gave to charity in 2020, with a mean of $43,195 given towards a great trigger that 12 months.
Nonetheless, some HNW traders are cautious of being too philanthropic—within the BofA survey, 30.9 p.c of prosperous people stated they prioritize the wants of their household first. Another excuse is that some traders don’t know the place to provide or how finest to go about it.
All of those traits present alternatives to current concepts and sources, alongside along with your experience, when first assembly with HNW shoppers.
Being Strategic with How HNW Traders Give Again
There’s a lot to contemplate main as much as a dialog about charitable planning. The next steps might help you assist shoppers by guiding them towards causes that match their pursuits, values, and general monetary image.
Get to know the shopper. Citing the subject of charitable giving early on within the relationship can reveal so much about your shoppers’ passions and priorities. What sort of mark do they wish to go away behind? How a lot of their wealth do they wish to dedicate to giving again versus leaving a legacy to their heirs? By asking the precise questions, you may assist them decide or slender down the problems that matter most to them, equivalent to:
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What sort of causes are most significant to you?
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What organizations do you assist 12 months after 12 months, and why?
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Have you ever wished to get behind a specific trigger however are uncertain which group might make the best influence?
Assets like Constancy Charitable instruments might help shoppers suppose by way of their choices. The location gives worksheets for figuring out why and the place to provide again, questions they may ask nonprofits, and calculators to estimate tax financial savings.
Be their philanthropy useful resource. In keeping with the BofA research, practically half of traders (46.6 p.c) take into account themselves novices in relation to charitable giving data, and solely 5 p.c view themselves as consultants. You may fill this hole by being acquainted with each sources and charitable planning autos, together with personal foundations, donor-advised funds (DAFs), charitable funds, and direct presents.
To go additional and make philanthropy a cornerstone of your apply, begin with acquiring the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation by way of the American Faculty. Throughout three on-line programs, members study integrating property planning with charitable planning, evaluating charitable tax methods and instruments, and understanding how nonprofits are structured and ruled.
Assist them strategize. Most of the time, donors use money to provide again, and most don’t use a giving automobile. That is the place you may convey up extra strategic, tax-efficient giving, like donating appreciated or advanced property (e.g., funding property or carefully held enterprise pursuits, actual property, or collectibles). In such circumstances, shoppers can usually decrease their capital good points publicity and deduct the complete market worth of the property they’re donating (in the event that they itemize).
For a shopper who prioritizes philanthropy and desires to go away a legacy to members of the family, a DAF could be a becoming method to meet each wants. By probably eliminating capital good points taxes and permitting for an revenue tax deduction, it’s a tax-efficient method to assist a favourite charity whereas encouraging heirs to hold on the custom of philanthropy by naming them as successor advisors.
Establishing a charitable the rest belief could facilitate the sale of an appreciated asset, with the tax legal responsibility unfold out over time. Your shoppers might retain an ongoing revenue stream, for a time period or for all times, and take a charitable contribution deduction. Any remaining property on this irrevocable, tax-exempt belief could be distributed to charity.
Even when taxes aren’t prime of thoughts, you’ll have to be prepared to elucidate the tax impacts of present giving. Your function is to assist shoppers residence in on their ardour when you discover essentially the most environment friendly methods to couple their ardour with their planning. By so doing, your shoppers can have a big influence on a trigger they care about whereas guaranteeing that their generosity doesn’t undermine their monetary future.
Beginning the Proper Dialog
Advisors and HNW traders could initially come on the matter of charitable giving from completely different angles. By attending to know your HNW shoppers’ principal motivations and values, you may assist them meet their targets—whether or not they wish to make an influence, go away one thing behind for future generations, or handle extra instant monetary wants.

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Philanthropic Giving for Excessive-Web-Price Shoppers
Understanding your shoppers’ charitable giving preferences might help you higher anticipate their wants and assist them obtain their targets.
Please seek the advice of your member agency’s insurance policies and procure prior approval for any designations you want to use.