Can a Charitable Remainder Trust Be Used to Generate Income in Retirement?

What if you were able to accomplish multiple goals in creating a trust at once, such as avoiding capital gains taxes, selling a highly appreciated asset and creating a steady stream of retirement income for your loved ones? These are just a few of the most common pros of choosing a charitable remainder trust.

A charitable remainder trust is an irrevocable tax exempt trust that serves for the purpose of reducing your taxable income. These are becoming much more popular because they can reduce your tax liability overall. This is known as a split interest giving vehicle, meaning that the assets inside the trust are split between two different beneficiaries.

The initial beneficiary, which is usually the creator (you), a person you name and a charitable organization. There are a few different kinds of charitable remainder trusts but the vast majority of them function in the same way. The grantor who creates the trust contributes assets into it. This can be anything from cash to property to shares of stock or even artwork.

You’ll usually want to contribute something that is capable of appreciating in value and the terms of the trust from that point on are those that you set. Speaking with a trusted Virginia Beach estate planning lawyer can help you to determine whether or not a charitable remainder trust makes sense for your individual situation.