When does a family need fiduciary services?
Naming a family member as trustee is often the kindest-looking decision and the hardest one to live with. Here is when a corporate trustee is the better answer.
Read MoreMarch 17, 2026 · Colony Family Offices
Colony Family Offices, in collaboration with Fidelity Charitable, recently hosted a webinar featuring Harrison Miller, a Charitable Planning Consultant, who shared insights on effective giving strategies and tax-efficient philanthropy. Key Takeaways: Charitable giving continues to grow, with the majority of contributions coming from individuals, highlighting the importance of thoughtful planning around how and what to give. […]
Colony Family Offices, in collaboration with Fidelity Charitable, recently hosted a webinar featuring Harrison Miller, a Charitable Planning Consultant, who shared insights on effective giving strategies and tax-efficient philanthropy.
Key Takeaways:
Charitable giving continues to grow, with the majority of contributions coming from individuals, highlighting the importance of thoughtful planning around how and what to give.
Many investors hold appreciated assets, yet relatively few utilize them for charitable giving, presenting an opportunity to give more efficiently by donating assets instead of cash.
There are a variety of charitable vehicles available, such as donor-advised funds, private foundations, and charitable trusts, each offering different levels of flexibility, control, and tax benefits depending on your goals.
Strategic charitable planning can enhance tax efficiency, particularly when aligned with key financial events such as high-income years, portfolio rebalancing, or liquidity events.
Incorporating charitable strategies into your broader financial plan can help maximize both your philanthropic impact and overall tax efficiency over time.
If you have any questions, we encourage you to reach out to your advisor to discuss how these strategies may apply to your situation and to identify ways to give charitably, achieve your desired impact, and potentially enhance tax efficiency.
Notes on the questions families are working through right now.
Naming a family member as trustee is often the kindest-looking decision and the hardest one to live with. Here is when a corporate trustee is the better answer.
Read MoreA model portfolio stops working when a family has entities, trusts and a tax position that no model can see. That is usually the moment to build one.
Read MoreIntegrated planning means tax, estate, philanthropy and investment decisions are made against one plan, by people who can see all of it at once.
Read MoreA multi-family office coordinates the whole of your family’s financial life through a single team, rather than leaving your family to assemble the pieces.
Read MoreColony Family Offices, in collaboration with Fidelity Charitable, recently hosted a webinar featuring Harrison Miller, a Charitable Planning Consultant, who shared insights on effective giving strategies and tax-efficient philanthropy. Key Takeaways: Charitable giving continues to grow, with the majority of contributions coming from individuals, highlighting the importance of thoughtful planning around how and what to give. […]
Read MoreColony Family Offices, in collaboration with Grant Philanthropic Advisors, recently hosted a discussion focused on planning effective family philanthropy and preserving philanthropic intent across generations. The discussion highlighted the importance of documenting a founder’s values, goals, motivations, and giving philosophy while they are still living. Clear donor intent can provide future generations with a shared […]
Read MoreOur promise is to bring clarity to your financial framework, continuity to the relationship, and trust to every step forward.