December 2016

Do you have questions about estate planning? Planned giving? Your will? Each month, we feature new articles and interactive features. We also share news about the charitable endowments under the umbrella of Hindu Heritage Endowment.

The Kauai Aadheenam Renovation Endowment, fund #13, is for renovating the Aadheenam building, Kadavul Hindu Temple as well as shrines and buildings in which the mathavasis live and work. Read more..."

End-of-Year Planning Checklist

Don’t Forget These Important Actions

With this year’s challenges and accomplishments still fresh in your mind, now is a good time to review your estate and financial plans. To help you in this process, we have constructed the following checklist of actions for you to go over as the end of the year rolls closer.

• Review your current will and trusts. These may need to be updated because of major changes in your life, such as births, deaths, marriages or a move to a different state.
• Review the beneficiary designations for your life insurance and retirement plans to make sure your beneficiary isn’t someone who is now deceased or a former spouse.
• Make sure your durable power of attorney for health care and living will are current. These medical documents should be updated and on file with family members and health care providers. Discuss decisions regarding anatomical gifts with your family.
• Take inventory and make a written record of the contents of any safe-deposit box. Give a copy to a trusted family member and note any items you are holding for someone else that don’t belong to you.
• Name designated heirs to receive bank account proceeds at your death.
• Be sure you are comfortable with the guardian named in your will for those under your care, such as minor children or a loved one who is disabled.
• Make donations in honor of loved ones as meaningful holiday gifts. They can even result in tax benefits. Visit www.hheonline.org or contact us to learn more.

If you are interested in supporting Hindu Heritage Endowment with a tax-wise gift this year or through your estate, please contact us. We can help you find the right gift for you.

Don’t have an estate plan? Get started by visiting www.hheonline.org and clicking on “Gift Planning.”

How You Benefit From Your Generosity

When you donate to Hindu Heritage Endowment this year, depending on the gift arrangements you choose, you can:

• Reduce your income taxes.
• Increase your spendable income.
• Eliminate capital gains tax.
• Attain no-cost, worry-free asset management.

Hinduism Today Production Fund: Featured Quarterly Article

The Best Retirement Plan of Them All

Ensuring a satisfying life by investing in wisdom and generosity

Raghunath P. Lathi in 2002, with late wife Bharati, whom he considers to have been a spiritual powerhouse and the very embodiment of selfless giving. Read more...