Growing in Generosity

Is Giving on Your Bucket List?

Jack Reynolds started his bucket list late in life, attacking it with gusto and Guinness World Records. He became the oldest man to get his first tattoo (his name and birthdate) at age 104. Then, at 105, the oldest to ride a roller coaster; at 106, the oldest to ride a zip line; and at 107, the oldest to perform as a guest star on a TV show.

There was more than the rush of excitement and world records to Jack’s centenarian thrill-seeking. He used the publicity around each event to raise money for a cause close to his heart, making an impact in the here and now.

Maybe generosity is a “someday” item on your bucket list. But there’s no need to wait. Your retirement assets are a great way to jump in and start giving now (no tattoos, roller coasters, or zip lines required!). Here’s how you can use those resources as a tool to meet needs:

Give your time. Your time is a key retirement asset. Consider giving out of that abundance as a volunteer with an organization you love. Investing your time and service pays lasting dividends in lives impacted and allows valuable resources to be allocated where they’re most needed.

Share your earnings. It’s common to carefully protect retirement earnings to ensure they last as long as they’re needed. What if you used yours now to serve others while also saving on your tax bill? When you make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to a charity, your retirement assets can change lives. When you do, you get the bonus of seeing your gift at work and stewarding your assets wisely—opening up more opportunities for generosity.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” One of the answers to that question is your generosity. Don’t wait until “someday” to give. You have an incredible opportunity to meet needs now!