The National Advisor of the Year Award recognizes financial and wealth managers, estate planners and trust officers who present philanthropic opportunities to their clients. Legacy gifts have been increasing in recent years and now make up about 18 percent of the society’s funds, said Bobby Collier, the society’s vice president for the planned giving region of the U.S. that includes Mississippi and Oklahoma.
“Money can be dedicated to research for particular kinds of cancer or for specific programs or geographic areas,” Collier said. “The advantage of working through estate planners is that the donor is sure the money will be used for what they want. If he or she dies without plans in place, it will not go to the charity.”