• Significant turbulence in the financial markets has made ‘asset protection’ a priority for many Americans.
• The consequences of the 2008 federal election have driven much discussion of changes (all unfavorable) in the estate tax laws.  Most advisors are speculating on when, not if, such changes will be made. 
• The dramatic fluctuation of the real estate and financial markets (mirrored by other commodities, i.e. look at price of crude oil over the last 52 weeks and gold peaked over $1,000 today)  has impacted the giving strategies that very high net worth individuals have employed over that same time period – especially in the 2009 calendar year.

Among our clients, those with active, responsive planned giving operations have seen collateral impact on their annual fund programs as donors zero-in on the operational needs of organizations that they trust with their assets.