Planned Gift? See a Trust Officer

A generation ago, Mr. and Mrs. Gotrocks might have needed the services of a trust officer at their friendly bank in order to set up a planned gift. A charitable remainder annuity trust, for instance.

In this century, donors find it easy to eliminate the trust-officer middleman and set up planned gifts, including annuities, directly. Easy, but not always safe. See Charity Bankruptcy Leaves Many Donors in Distress.

Banks aren't so friendly anymore (your's excluded, of course!) but maybe prospective donors should get back in the habit of consulting the bank's trust and investment pros.