Retirement Plan Assets and

Gifts of Life Insurance

Retirement Plan Assets

Retirement plan assets offer an excellent legacy gift by naming the Steamship Historical Society of America as a beneficiary of your individual retirement plans (e.g., IRA, 403(b), 401(k), Keogh, or other qualified pension plan). This can usually be accomplished by completing the appropriate beneficiary forms provided by the administrator of the plan.

Because it is a qualified charity, the Steamship Historical Society of America as beneficiary can receive all proceeds from such retirement plans without having to pay any income tax. If the beneficiary is an individual, that individual must pay income tax on the funds received from the plan. When the Steamship Historical Society of America is named as a beneficiary, the donor may also qualify for a reduction in estate taxes (depending on the size of the total estate assets).

Representatives of the Steamship Historical Society of America are available upon request to discuss these various giving options with the donor or representative of the donor. We advise you to work with your attorney and financial advisors to plan the charitable arrangement which is most advantageous to you and your estate.

Gifts of Life Insurance

There are many types of life insurance gifts. The most common is an assignment of an existing policy that is currently in force or paid up. The donor names the Steamship Historical Society of America owner and beneficiary. The benefits to the donor are both in the gift and estate tax considerations. When gifting a policy still requiring premium payments, later payments made by the donor are also deductible for tax purposes.