One of the easiest ways to gift money to a charity in your estate plan is to name the charity as a beneficiary on your IRA or 401(k). Upon your death, the beneficiary designated on an IRA or 401(k) will receive their percentage of the assets very quickly. In addition, the designated beneficiary is independent of the will.
When you are planning to fund your child’s college education, the 529 plan can provide several tax-benefits for your savings. A 529 plan is a plan operated by a state or educational institution, with tax advantages and potentially other incentives to make it easier to save for college and other post-secondary training, or for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school for a designated beneficiary, such as a child or grandchild.