Saturday | September 11, 2021

CONGRATULATIONS! You have made it to Step 9 on the Stewardship Well Done Journey – Legacy. In this step, we encourage you to engage a professional to utilize your estate planning documents and maximize giving.

 

Whether we realize it or not, we have all been influenced by someone’s legacy, and we will all one day leave a legacy. In the broadest sense, a legacy is anything handed down from the past. Sometimes a person’s legacy makes a huge impact (Billy Graham, Mother Theresa), but more often, it speaks to a smaller number of people. Sometimes a legacy is tangible (a wedding dress, a photo album, a veteran’s medals), but often it is intangible (a caring spirit, a life of service, a kind word). Your legacy will likely have many facets, including how you have stewarded the resources entrusted to your care.

 

By simply making it to Step 9 on the Stewardship Well Done Journey you are leaving a legacy of financial responsibility to your descendants. You may leave them an inheritance, but more importantly you are leaving them an example. You have said “I love you” by taking the time and effort to develop a life of stewardship and organize your financial life. You have made things easier for your descendants by having documents and provisions in place for after you are gone.

 

No two legacies are alike. Just as God has given each of us a unique calling and unique gifts, He leads us in different directions regarding our legacy. As you consider the culmination of your Stewardship Well Done Journey, what legacy would you like your finances to leave? For some, it may be important to set up each child for financial success or fund higher education for grandchildren. Others may have dedicated a significant portion of their time to a particular cause or ministry throughout their life and want to continue giving after they are gone. It is likely that your financial legacy will harmonize with and reflect other aspects of your overall legacy (love of family, a life of servant leadership, dedication to a specific ministry, etc.)  There is no “right” answer to what your stewardship legacy should be, except to listen and respond to God’s leading.

 

It can be daunting to think about your own legacy. But the earlier you consider it, the more of an impact you can make. And you don’t need to do it alone. As you listen to the Lord’s leading, we would love to become part of your stewardship story by helping you use your resources to maximize the impact of your legacy. There are tools and methods available to help you give to family and ministry with tax-wise strategies. Or to leave a gift for your children over time instead of in one lump sum. Often clients think they can only benefit family (to the exclusion of ministry) or only benefit ministry (to the exclusion of family) … but there are many ways to benefit both effectively! You can even use one gift to provide for your family now and a particular cause or ministry later. Does your legacy include caring for someone with special needs? There are specific tools to do that well. Have you ever dreamed of having a “charitable checkbook”? We can help with that, too! As you listen to the Holy Spirit, let us help you build your stewardship legacy both during your lifetime and after you are gone.

FINANCES

SAVVY LIVING

Social Security Program to Help Manage Payments
Does Social Security offer any special help to beneficiaries who struggle managing their benefits? My aunt, who has no children, has dementia and struggles keeping up with her bills and other financial duties.
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PERSONAL PLANNER

Married Couples and Property
Mary was a surviving spouse. She and her first spouse, Ryan owned a lovely home and placed it into joint tenancy with right of survivorship. After Ryan passed away, Mary met Logan and they were married.
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WASHINGTON NEWS

New Plan to Increase Retirement Savings
Congress is working on major legislation that could result in a $3.5 trillion spending bill. Many House Committees are tasked to write different parts of the massive legislation. As part of that process, on September 10, 2021, the House Ways and Means…
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DONOR STORY

Leading for the Future
Luke and Candice spent many years volunteering and supporting their favorite Free Methodist ministry. They wanted to give back in a way that would help fulfill its mission.
Read More »

FREE ESTATE PLANNING GUIDE

It’s never too late to plan for the people and causes you care about. Our easy-to-use estate planning guide can help you gather the information you need before meeting with your attorney.

DOWNLOAD GUIDE >>

PLANNED GIVING CALCULATORS

Use our online calculator to view the tax and income benefits of making a gift to support our cause. This can help you determine the best plan to meet your needs and goals. 

VIEW CALCULATORS >>

Content from Crescendo Interactive. 

CONTACT US TODAY TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION

We believe that with effective counsel and financial management, each person can multiply the impact of the resources entrusted to their care. 

Hours

Monday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

FMF Financial Services

8050 Spring Arbor Rd
PO Box 580
Spring Arbor, MI 49283
(517) 750-2727: phone
(517) 750-2752: fax