As the days grow shorter and the leaves begin to fall, we’re reminded that fall is a season of reflection — a time to take stock of what we’ve been given and how we might give back. For many of us, this time of year naturally brings gratitude, generosity, and the desire to make a meaningful difference.
At Princeton Global, we’ve found that the most impactful giving isn’t just about writing a check — it’s about aligning wealth with your values and planning with intention. When clients connect their financial decisions to what matters most to them, the outcomes extend far beyond dollars.
As the year draws to a close, here are several strategies that can make charitable giving more efficient, effective, and personally rewarding.
1. Turn Gains Into Good: Donating Appreciated Stock
After several strong years in the markets, many investors hold concentrated positions with significant unrealized gains. Donating appreciated stock, mutual funds, or ETFs directly to a qualified charity is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give.
Gifting long-term appreciated securities allows you to deduct the fair market value of the shares while avoiding capital gains tax on the appreciation. The charity receives more, and your dollars go further.
For example, donating $10,000 of stock purchased for $2,000 avoids the tax on the $8,000 gain while providing a full $10,000 deduction. It’s a smart strategy for anyone with concentrated positions or securities that have grown significantly over the years.
Local organizations such as the Princeton Area Community Foundation and Arm In Arm accept stock donations and put them to work supporting neighbors across Mercer County.
If you want flexibility, a donor-advised fund (DAF) allows you to contribute appreciated securities now, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to charities over time. A DAF can be especially helpful in higher-income years or if you are still deciding which causes to support.
2. Giving from Retirement Accounts: Qualified Charitable Distributions
For individuals age 70½ or older, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a highly effective way to give. A QCD allows you to transfer up to $100,000 per year directly from your IRA to a qualified charity, tax-free.
This strategy can satisfy required minimum distributions (RMDs) without increasing taxable income. For retirees who don’t need their full RMD, a QCD reduces adjusted gross income and can help avoid higher Medicare premiums or taxation on Social Security benefits.
Imagine redirecting part of your RMD to HomeFront, Younity (formerly Womanspace), or Cornerstone Community Kitchen — organizations right here in our area that help families rebuild their lives, provide safety, and feed those in need.
3. Family Giving: Sharing Joy and Values
Charitable giving can also be a beautiful family affair. The IRS currently allows individuals to give up to $19,000 per recipient each year ($38,000 for married couples) without triggering gift tax. While this can be a great way to help children or grandchildren financially, it’s also an opportunity to model generosity and shared purpose.
We encourage families to think about giving not just in terms of inheritance, but also as a way to participate in a shared purpose. A family gift toward an experience — such as a trip, volunteer project, or educational opportunity — can build lasting memories and values that far outweigh the dollars spent.
This idea echoes the “Die with Zero” philosophy, popularized by author Bill Perkins, which reframes wealth transfer as something best experienced during life rather than after. Consider using your wealth now to create experiences, connections, and meaning — both for yourself and those you love. The goal isn’t reckless spending; it’s intentional living.
Imagine your family volunteering together at Send Hunger Packing Princeton or adopting a family through Holiday Wishes of Mercer County. The experience of giving time, attention, and presence often has a greater impact than money alone.
4. The Gift of Time
While financial generosity is essential to sustaining local organizations, giving your time and presence can be even more transformative — for both the giver and the receiver.
This season, our team at Princeton Global will spend a day volunteering at Cornerstone Community Kitchen, which provides free weekly meals to anyone in need. We look forward to this time together not only because of the impact it has on others, but because it reconnects us with the heart of why we do what we do: to make life a little better for those around us.
You don’t have to be an expert to make a difference. Whether it’s mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters, collecting coats for HomeFront, or helping at a local food drive, there’s no shortage of ways to give back this season.
5. Aligning Wealth with Values
True financial well-being goes beyond accumulating assets — it’s about using those assets to support the life and legacy you want to build. Charitable giving is one of the most meaningful ways to express that intention.
When your money reflects your values, decisions become simpler. The focus shifts from “What do I have?” to “What can I contribute?” In that shift, generosity becomes transformative — enriching the causes you care about, strengthening family connection, and adding purpose to your financial life.
If you’re unsure where to start, begin with small, intentional steps. Gifting appreciated stock, opening a donor-advised fund, making Qualified Charitable Distributions from an IRA, or creating a family giving plan can offer real tax benefits while deepening your sense of impact.
Our role is to help clients identify which assets are best suited for charitable or family gifts, compare donation structures, and integrate these strategies into their broader financial, retirement, and estate plans. The technical details matter, but the alignment behind them is what makes giving meaningful.
Just as investment compounding in a portfolio, thoughtful giving builds on itself — creating financial, emotional, and community value over time.
Closing Reflection
As we enter the season of gratitude, we encourage you to pause and reflect:
- What is our money for?
- How can our time, talent, and resources reflect the values we want to share?
- Where can generosity create the greatest impact?
Giving strengthens our community, enriches our relationships, and reminds us how connected we all are. When you give with intention, generosity becomes more than an act—it becomes a way of living.
At Princeton Global, “We’re with You” — helping you plan with purpose, align wealth with values, and make a meaningful difference for the people and communities you love.
Brett Shaver, CFA, and Tara Bansal, CFP® are partners at Princeton Global, an independent Registered Investment Advisor located on Hulfish Street that has been serving families and nonprofit organizations since 2009. Shaver and Bansal lead the firm’s investment management and financial planning services. To learn more about our team, visit www.princetonglobal.com.