As a partner within the estate planning community, DuPage Foundation proudly observes National Estate Planning Awareness Week to encourage DuPage County residents to create meaningful estate plans.
In 2008, the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) created National Estate Planning Awareness Week to serve as a reminder for those without an estate plan and encourage them to contact their attorney and other professional advisors, such as their accountant, financial advisor, life insurance agent, and trust officer, for help. According to the NAEPC, an estimated 56 percent of Americans do not have an estate plan in place, making estate planning a critically overlooked component of financial wellness.
“Creating an estate plan is essential to providing security and peace of mind for yourself and for your loved ones,” said Kim Coogan, a founding partner with the Oak Brook-based law firm Bellock & Coogan, LTD and member of DuPage Foundation’s Professional Advisor Committee. “From addressing questions such as who will make decisions for you about your health and property should you become incapacitated to ensuring that your assets are allocated according to your wishes and that your loved ones and favorite causes are sufficiently provided for, having an estate plan is a must.”
For those who are philanthropic, creating an estate plan that includes a charitable element can be a powerful way to do something impactful for their community and favorite causes. Besides naming one or more favorite charities to receive a one-time estate gift, it is also possible to create lasting endowments for them and for specific areas of local interest (e.g., basic human needs, the arts, education, mental health, the environment, animal welfare, etc.) that will ensure the donor’s support continues annually.
As DuPage County’s catalyst for coordinated impact, DuPage Foundation’s knowledgeable staff is committed to helping area residents support their favorite causes, learn about local opportunities, and address critical needs.
“An estate gift to DuPage Foundation is a deeply meaningful way to create your own lasting legacy and help our community in the specific ways you choose,” said Alice Wood, JD, DuPage Foundation’s director of gift planning. “By planning now and giving later, you can shape your charitable goals while keeping lifetime control of your assets.”
Those interested in making a local charitable impact can plan a gift to DuPage Foundation through a will or trust, or name DuPage Foundation as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, retirement account, or other financial account.
DuPage Foundation works with a vast network of experienced professional advisors who share its commitment to encouraging philanthropy and helping clients realize their unique goals. The Foundation is a knowledge base and partner for all professional advisors and offers charitable giving expertise through various channels. Learn how DuPage Foundation can help you and your clients at dupagefoundation.org/professionaladvisors.
For more information on how to support your favorite causes and create an estate gift through DuPage Foundation, please visit dupagefoundation.org/legacysociety or contact Alice Wood, JD, director of gift planning, at alice@dupagefoundation.org or 630.598.5288.
