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Tara Mattessich, shareholder at Larkin Hoffman, shares her tips and tricks for discussing philanthropy with clients.

As a lawyer who specializes in estate planning, Tara Mattessich knows just how important it is for advisors to have conversations with their clients about philanthropy.

Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation Gift Planner Lisa Barton recently sat down with Tara, attorney and shareholder at Larkin Hoffman, to find out some of the ways she works with her clients around planned giving.

In their conversation, Tara and Lisa discussed several tips for incorporating your clients' philanthropy into your practice.

Watch the video for Tara’s following tips:

Identify where your client is with their estate plan. (0:35 sec)
Ensure your clients communicate what documents they have, as well as where the documents can be found upon death. (0:51 sec)
Incorporate discussions about philanthropy into all of your meetings. (1:18 min)
Suggest utilizing beneficiary designations. (2:04 min)
There is no right or wrong way to have conversations about philanthropy with your clients. (3:16 min)
Having the conversation is the first step. (3:26 min)
Consider the benefits of working with a community foundation. (3:53 min)
Have your clients consider the flexibility and benefits of a donor advised fund. (4:59 min)

How We Support Conversations about Philanthropic Planning

Tara is a member of our Cornerstone Council, an advisory group which provides a forum for professional advisors to learn more about the Foundation, while helping us learn how to better serve advisors and their clients’ philanthropic planning.

To learn how the Foundation has helped support other advisors with their clients, read more of our advisor spotlights.

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