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Transferable on Death (TOD) Gifts

Transferable on Death (TOD) Gifts
Harold and Jeanne married after meeting on a mission trip. They wanted to leave a legacy gift that would support missions.

Harold: Jeanne and I have always felt a strong connection to missions. We wanted to make sure that others have the opportunity to go on mission trips too.

Jeanne: We talked to our investment advisor about planning goals and explained what we wanted to do. Our advisor suggested a simple solution — naming our favorite mission organization as a beneficiary of one of our mutual funds.

Marcus, who was Harold and Jeanne's investment advisor, suggested that Harold and Jeanne use a "transferable on death" or "TOD" form. Marcus explained that because Harold and Jeanne jointly owned the account, the TOD beneficiary designation form would ensure that they can benefit from the mutual fund during their joint lives, that the survivor of the two of them would continue to own the mutual fund for the rest of the survivor's life, and that after both pass away, the mutual fund would be transferred and used to support missions. Marcus provided the proper TOD beneficiary designation form, and Harold and Jeanne were easily able to complete the paperwork before they left Marcus's office.

Jeanne: We really liked Marcus's idea. Making a TOD gift was simple to set up and will let us continue to use the mutual fund to meet our needs in retirement.

Harold: I like knowing that if I pass away, Jeanne will have enough to meet her needs. We both like knowing that missions will be supported by receiving our mutual fund after both of us pass away. We couldn't be happier with our giving strategy.

Is a transferable on death (TOD) gift right for you?


If you own stocks, bonds or mutual funds and would like to make a gift to leave a legacy and support your favorite organization, consider a transfer on death gifting strategy. If you have questions about transfer on death giving strategies, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you have.

*Please note: The name and image above is representative of a typical donor and may or may not be an actual donor to our organization. Since the benefits of a TOD gift may differ depending on your personal circumstances, please consult with your legal, tax or financial advisor.


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