Home
Planned Giving Home
Donor Stories
IRA Rollover
Wills Presentation
Create Your Plan
Meet the Staff
Finance News
Reading Room
Donor eNewsletter
Professional Advisors
Tax News
Calculator
Tax References
Advisor eNewsletter
Bequest Language

Our Mission is to help God's people accept the challenge and experience the blessing of Biblical Stewardship.

Our Vision is to see local churches accomplish the ministry God has called them to fulfill through the stewardship of God's people.

Our Passion is to see all of God's people attending all our Wesleyan churches bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse.

      A Bequest to Save Taxes

Thomas Merrick was a widower who had a great love for the ministry. As an individual who had directly benefited from the ministry, Thomas wanted to thank us with a gift from his estate.

Thomas told his attorney that he wished to make a bequest to the church. Thomas' estate included some stocks, real estate and an IRA. Thomas' attorney recommended that he give the appreciated stock and real estate to his children and leave his IRA to charity.

Thomas: My attorney told me that if I gave the stock and real estate to my children, these assets would receive a step-up in basis at my death. My children could then sell them without paying tax. However, if I gave my children my IRA, the IRA would be subject to estate and income tax. After paying all of these taxes, very little would be left for my family. By giving the IRA to this organization, I could make a nice gift and avoid any additional tax for my estate and children.

Thomas contacted his IRA custodian to obtain a beneficiary designation form. He filled out the form and designated our organization as the 100% recipient of his IRA account. Thomas' attorney then specified in Thomas' will the bequest of his other assets to his children.

Thomas: I was so impressed with my attorney's advice that I named him executor of my will!

Thomas called and notified us of his bequest. Thomas was pleased that because our organization was a tax exempt institution, it would receive the full amount of the IRA value when he passed away, creating a legacy for the future.

You also may want to make it easy and convenient to have a bequest included in your will. The language below shows how a bequest can very easily be included in your will.

You might find it helpful to select the "print" button on the top of your screen and print this page. You may feel free to give this page to your attorney. If he or she has any questions, please have him or her contact us at phone number 317-774-7338 or email us at derrw@wesleyan.org.

Please note: The name and image above is representative of a typical donor and may or may not be an actual donor to our organization. Since your IRA gift benefits under federal rules may be different from this person, you may want to contact us to discuss an IRA gift.



Example bequest language - Please click here for example bequest language.


You may print a Bequest tri-fold brochure. What Legacy Will You Leave.



© Copyright 1999-2010 Crescendo Interactive, Inc.

Phone: 800-627-2537

Email: stewardshipministries@wesleyan.org

Mailing: P.O. Box 50434, Indianapolis, IN 46250