Your 2023 Guide to Holiday Giving

Oct 31, 2023

As you reconnect with loved ones for the holidays, consider these impactful ways to give.

Key Takeaways

  • The end of the year can be a good time to consider how you can support the people and causes you value.
  • Charitable giving strategies include contributing to a donor advised fund or donating your retirement distribution to charity.
  • Want to support family members? You can give financial gifts of up to $17,000 per individual this year.
  • Opening or contributing to a 529 plan is another good way to support younger loved ones.

As the holidays approach, many of us are eager to make the season bright by giving to loved ones and those in need.

Here are some financially smart strategies to help you support the people and causes you value most.

Giving to Others in Need

There are many creative and traditional ways to give back.

 

  • One strategy is to contribute to a donor advised fund (DAF), such as the Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust (MS GIFT). When you donate to a DAF, you may take a federal income tax deduction in the year the donation is made, subject to certain limitations.1 The assets donated to the DAF can then stay invested and potentially grow, tax-free, until you recommend which charities you want to receive a cash donation, giving you and your family time to decide where your gift could have the greatest impact.

 

  • Moreover, if you’ve been investing for a while, you may hold securities that have appreciated significantly. Donating appreciated securities may help to reduce the potential tax hit from capital gains that you might otherwise incur by selling the securities and subsequently donating the cash.
 
  • If you’re retired, consider donating your retirement distribution to charity. If you’re at least 70½ and are the owner of an IRA or Inherited IRA, you can usually make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to an eligible organization of up to $100,000 per year, indexed for inflation for tax years after 2023, directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). QCDs generally come with no tax costs to you or the charity receiving the donation—allowing you to count a QCD toward your required minimum distribution for the year if certain rules are met, reduce your taxable estate, and feel good about supporting a cause you care for.2

 


How you contribute depends on the causes you value the most. For example, at Morgan Stanley, one of our priorities is to address youth mental health issues, which are on the rise across the U.S., especially in underserved communities. The Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health Innovation Awards identify and fund early-stage, innovative healthcare solutions for children and young adults across the U.S. “Approximately 20% of youth experience a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder,” said Joan Steinberg, President of the Morgan Stanley Foundation and CEO of the Alliance for Children’s Mental Health’s Advisory Board. “But only around 1% of philanthropic funding is earmarked for these issues.”

 

Of course, there are many worthy causes. The strategies above are valuable in deciding how to support the ones that matter to you.

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The assets donated to the DAF can then stay invested and potentially grow, tax-free, until you recommend which charities you want to receive a cash donation, giving you and your family time to decide where your gift could have the greatest impact.

Giving to Loved Ones

Giving gifts to family members remains a cherished part of the holiday routine for many families, and the chance to reconnect may have you considering how to best give to family. These simple questions can help: 

 

  • Do you want to give family members a financial gift? If so, remember that you can give up to $17,000 per individual this year without having to file a gift tax return ($34,000 if married and electing to split gifts). However, gifts exceeding $17,000 per individual count against your lifetime federal gift and estate tax exemption of $12.92 million per individual (and $25.84 million per married couple) in 2023. 

 

  • Does your loved one need money to pay bills or fund other basic necessities? 
    • If Yes: Do they need it more this year than other years? Should you increase the amount? This might be the year to think closely about how your generosity can best help.
    • If No: Are they saving toward something (education, a house, a passion project) that you could contribute to? If you know a loved one who struggles to save, funding an initiative directly, such as college tuition which is not subject to the gift tax limitations, might make a great gift.

 

  • Have you considered opening or contributing to a 529 plan? A 529 plan is a multi-faceted investment vehicle with multiple benefits, including, but not limited to, investing for future education expenses. Earnings grow tax-free, and as long as you use the funds for qualified education expenses, they are generally exempt from tax. Anyone, including grandparents, can contribute up to $17,000 per year ($34,000 for married couples electing to split gifts) to any individual’s 529 plan per beneficiary, without reducing one’s lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion amount. In addition, you can bundle five years of contributions into one $85,000 contribution ($170,000 for married couples electing to split gifts) per beneficiary, provided you make the required election on a gift tax return for the year of the contribution.
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Morgan Stanley’s third-quarter 2023 Wealth Management Pulse Survey found that over half of respondents (52%) feel that high inflation is still a top concern when it comes to their portfolio.

The Gift of Financial Wellness

As the holidays approach, prioritizing your own financial well-being can ensure a sound start to the new year.

 

Morgan Stanley’s third-quarter 2023 Wealth Management Pulse Survey found that over half of respondents (52%) feel that high inflation is still a top concern when it comes to their portfolio, followed by a recession (31%) and market volatility (26%).3

 

Staying focused on your goals can help you avoid getting too anxious about your portfolio. If you find yourself stressed—whether about giving this holiday season or prioritizing your financial wellness—your Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor can help.

 

Connect with your Financial Advisor to discuss how you can financially prepare for year-end and set yourself up for success in 2024.

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