Florida Donor Devoted to JNF’s Water Projects
JNF Makes Estate Planning Easy and Efficient by Matt Bernstein, CFP, JNF Chief Planned Giving Officer The financial commentators call them green shoots. You know, those little pieces of evidence that the winter of the great recession is behind us and the spring of a new growth phase has just begun. Some may feel this is optimistic, but optimism may be all we have. Here’s to hoping that 2011 will be better than 2010 for all of us. For many of our donors, however, the historical lower interest rates that still persist have not only impacted spending decisions; it also impacts the ability to support those causes which are important to them, including Jewish National Fund. Now may be a good time to explore the option of supporting Jewish National Fund through our Charitable Gift Annuity program. As many of our donors know, JNF runs one of the most successful Charitable Gift Annuity programs in the country. We believe it is because we offer very competitive annuity rates and our donors enjoy the stability of receiving a steady income check with the knowledge that their support of Israel goes undiminished.
So how does this work? A JNF Charitable Gift Annuity is a simple agreement that offers our donors a lifetime income in exchange for their gift. In addition to the income, there are valuable tax advantages such as tax-free income, an income tax deduction, and the avoidance of lump sum capital gains taxes if the donation is made with long-term appreciated stocks or mutual funds. Our annuities can be structured to cover one or two lives and can even be designed to act like a supplemental retirement plan by deferring income for a number of years. Here is a sampling of the single life annuity rates we currently offer: Age 65 Age 70 Age 75 Age 80 Age 85 Age 90+
6.0% 6.5% 7.1% 8.0% 9.5% 11.3.%
might benefit you, please call 800-562-7526 and speak with any of our Planned Giving specialists. We are ready to answer all of your questions. The recent tax bill passed by the House and Senate extends the extraordinary opportunity to make tax-free rollover gifts from a traditional or Roth IRAs to charity. To make sure that your gift will qualify for the tax-free treatment you must satisfy a few regulations: • You must be over 70 1/2 years old • The transfer from your IRA must go directly from your IRA to Jewish National Fund • The gift cannot exceed $100,000 in 2011. A couple with separate IRAs can each make separate gifts of $100,000. • The gift must be an outright gift*
*Transfers of IRA gifts to donor advised funds, supporting organizations, charitable gift annuities, or charitable reTo receive information, including a detailed illustra- mainder trusts do not qualify. The gift is not eligible for an tion on how a Jewish National Fund Charitable Gift Annuity additional charitable income tax deduction.
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Cynthia Hertz and her husband, Matthew J. Hertz (z”l), got to know JNF through its Planned Giving department. Ever since, she has become a devotee. “Matthew believed it was good financial planning to invest in JNF,” said Cynthia. “He was always very supportive of its work, JNF practices efficient fiscal management, and it is a way to be charitable and get an annuity.” The couple established a strong connection with JNF through a variety of Planned Giving projects: gifting a piece of real estate to a Charitable Remainder Trust, setting up a
in which she was featured. “A lot of people wrote back saying that they didn’t even know that Israel had a water shortage,” she said. “I want to help make people more aware about JNF and all the good that it is doing for the land and people in Israel.” A few years ago, Cynthia decided it was time she had a bat mitzvah. Upon completion of the two-year study program she took with 16 other women in her neighborhood, she gave a water certificate to each member of her bat mitzvah class. “I give them all the time,” she said, “as a way to commemorate an event or memorialize a loved one. Most people don’t know that like tree certificates, you can give water certificates as well.” And two years ago, when she celebrated her bat mitzvah for the first time, she asked guests to donate to JNF’s water development. Cynthia became a Sapphire Society member in 2009 and recently attended her first JNF National Conference in Atlanta. “That was such a wonderful experience,” she said. “The speakers and presentations were so informative and engaging. I really enjoyed learning about all the projects in which JNF is involved. Everything we are doing is very impressive.”
PLANNED GIVING
Cynthia Hertz at the dedication of her family’s pillar at Sderot Reservoir.
Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust, and a Charitable Gift Annuity. They also established the Dr. Matthew & Cynthia Hertz Charitable Lead Trust, which generates a yearly income to JNF, among several other charities, and funds water projects as per the Hertz’s designation. Born in the Bronx, Cynthia met Matthew while he was in dental school and she was in college. The couple settled in Ardsley, NY and Matthew opened up a dental practice in nearby Riverdale, where he went on to practice with his son, brother-in-law and nephew. Cynthia earned her degree in Library Sciences and Special Education and worked in Jewish education as a Library/Media Specialist for 30 years. The couple moved to Boynton Beach, FL in 2003. Matthew passed away in 2005. In 2006, through the income generated from the Lead Trust, funding was provided to the East Bahan Reservoir at Emek Hefer. Cynthia has a keen interest in the water situation in the Middle East and sees JNF’s water projects as a solution to the problem. Her family’s contribution was marked by a pillar at the reservoir which was unveiled for her at a private dedication ceremony. Always looking for ways to raise JNF’s profile, Cynthia recalls sending friends an ad about a recent JNF fundraiser