Personal Legacy Advisors, LLC

Merrill Lynch gives good advice about creating an ethical will

susan — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:20:36 +0000

A good article appeared today published by Merrill Lynch that makes the case for creating an ethical will and provides some good ideas for what can go into them.

Beyond the Mission Statement: Capturing the Fullness of Your Philanthropic Intent

susan — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:29:08 +0000

The legal documents that establish a charitable instrument like a foundation, trust, donor advised fund or planned gift do not begin to reflect the richness of personal history, values and visions that lie behind the voluntary act of generosity. Chances are that first, that back story is pretty interesting. But second, it is such an important story for successors charged with future responsibility for the instrument, to fully understand as they set direction and seek consensus. You will learn:

The benefits of creating an expression of intent alongside legal documents establishing a fund, foundation or bequest
Why create one: to whom? What to include?
How they are different than a mission or vision statement
Getting started: a process to follow; do’s and don’ts
Stories and examples

Life Legacy Cards

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:15:35 +0000

A box of unique cards, each with an inviting prompt guaranteed to trigger richly rewarding responses.

An Affordable Tool and Memorable Gift: Order 10 boxes @ $12.95

susan — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:57:21 +0000

Give as a token of appreciation

Holiday, welcome or thank you gift for clients or referral sources
Recognition gift for donors or prospective donors
Table favor or take-away at conference or sponsored event

Use every day in your practice

Requires no facilitator, license fee or expensive training
An easy way to develop relationships and trust with your clients, donors or patients
Use as a prop to comfortably initiate discussion about legacy planning

Read ideas and tips for using the cards

“In this exquisite little package, Susan Turnbull has devised an ingenious way for us to begin the exploration of our personal legacy. It’s one thing to pass on your assets; it’s quite another thing to pass on your dreams, values, and aspirations. Her carefully crafted queries begin us on that journey.”

Sam Caldwell, President, The Planned Giving Company

Other Quantities

Single boxes @ $14.95/box Pack of 100 boxes @ $9.95/box

An Affordable Tool and Memorable Gift: Order 100 Boxes @ $9.95

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:35:00 +0000

Private-label: create something distinctively yours

Holiday, welcome or appreciation gift for clients or referral sources
Recognition gift for donors or prospective donors
Take-away or table favor at conference or sponsored event

Support, reflect your values and priorities

Requires no facilitator, license fee or expensive training
An easy way to develop relationships and trust with your clients, donors or patients
Use as a prop to comfortably initiate discussion about personal history, values and legacy

Read ideas and tips for using the cards

“In this exquisite little package, Susan Turnbull has devised an ingenious way for us to begin the exploration of our personal legacy. It’s one thing to pass on your assets; it’s quite another thing to pass on your dreams, values, and aspirations. Her carefully crafted queries begin us on that journey.”

Sam Caldwell, President, The Planned Giving Company

Lesser Quantities

Single box @ $14.95/box Pack of 10 boxes @ $12.95/box

Vanguard Charitable article highlights work of Susan Turnbull

susan — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:14:54 +0000

Brad Caswell, COO of the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Fund, emphasizes the importance of good communication when it comes to setting a philanthropic example for heirs. He mentions Susan Turnbull and her advocacy of the ethical will as an effective tool for articulating, reinforcing and perpetuating the values that led to the decision to give.

Billionaires Challenge Each Other to Give Big

susan — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:53:23 +0000

Read this fascinating story in last week’s Fortune about the secretive gathering of billionaires last year, meeting to talk about the difference they could make if they all agreed to give away half their net worth – during and/or after life, a challenge spear-headed by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates. The estimated impact would be $600 billion flowing out of private hands into philanthropy. This is positive leverage on a huge scale and seems so thoroughly American: they are thinking big, using their entrepreneurial instincts and suggesting that its good for members of succeeding generations to have to invent themselves, too.

Financial advisor sums up the value of an ethical will

susan — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:54:03 +0000

Today’s webinar for financial and legal advisors on how to incorporate ethical wills into client conversations was, as these classes always are, as insightful for me as I believe they are for those who attend. One of the participants, “The reason I’m here is because people are starving for ways to express themselves before entering into never, never land. I think being the person to introduce them to the concept of the ethical will is a great value-add for my practice.”

LifeLegacy Cards

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:13:38 +0000

Take a Moment to Share a Lifetime

A boxed set of elegant, durable cards inviting reflection on some of the essential elements in a person’s life. Use to jump-start fresh and meaningful conversations or as prompts for thoughtful writing. These handsome and stimulating cards are guaranteed to trigger rich and memorable responses.

An effective tool and a wonderful gift for parents and grandparents, clients, donors and friends:

Tangible expression of your respect and gratitude for them
Comfortable invitation to share history and values
Succinct structure for seeing the journey of life
Natural way to to deepen personal connections
Ready-made outline for an ethical will or recorded interview

Read ideas and tips for using the cards

In my practice of helping people create ethical wills and personal histories as an integral part of their estate plans, my signature sign-off reads, “What you’ve learned is as valuable as what you’ve earned.”

That phrase will be true forever. These cards fulfill a vision to provide a nearly effortless route to extraordinary conversations and sharing that will naturally transmit dimensions of “intangible” wealth. This route requires no advance preparation, is open ended and has no right or wrong direction, yet has the potential to make a profound difference to all who share and all who receive. Enjoy it all!

Message from Susan Turnbull

Institutional buyers: buy in bulk and save!

Pack of 10 boxes @ $12.95/box Pack of 100 boxes @ $9.95/box

Plus! Customize the box with a foil imprint of your logo or personal message. More details

Each Card Set Includes

High quality, dark brown gift box with foil imprint
(13) 3.25” square cards on heavy, double thick stock
Inviting prompts on subjects that span a lifetime
Glorious color images from around the world
Blank space on the backs for optional notes
Tip sheet with ideas for how to use the cards

Good article on ethical wills: Legacy letters leave lasting impressions

susan — Mon, 10 May 2010 00:18:57 +0000

Today’s Daytona Beach News-Journal had a good column on ethical wills and names creators of them as diverse as President Obama, Mary McLeod Bethune and reality TV star Kate Gosselin. Three lines especially stood out for me:

“Legacy letters are recognized as much for their benefit to the writer as the for intended reader.” So true, in my experience.
This great quote from a writer, “If you don’t tell your own story, nobody else will.”
And finally, a terrific question to ask yourself or someone else, “If you had an ancestor you wanted to know more about, what would you ask them?”