Next time you meet with your estate planning attorney, check in on your long-term plans and ask yourself questions you might not yet have considered. Some planners report that more clients are reconsidering an automatic estate distribution to heirs.

Instead, their clients are evaluating what type of legacies make the most sense and working hard to prepare children and grandchildren to receive that wealth. Times are changing, and regular, careful estate plan reviews with your advisors are more important than ever.

Here are three emerging themes:

They don’t need it—or want it.

It may come as a surprise, but not all assets pass to heirs without consequence. When working through estate plans, some assets are better to pass to heirs, and others are better going to charity. In the case of traditional IRAs, heirs also inherit the tax responsibility, which means that sometimes it makes good financial sense for heirs to disclaim inheritances from their parents. This Wall Street Journal article (subscription required) is instructive, noting that heirs can sometimes benefit from allowing assets—especially tax-heavy ones like traditional IRAs—to pass to contingent beneficiaries in a more tax-efficient way. Legal disclaimers provide post-death flexibility for families to adjust estate plans in response to current circumstances. Consult with your trusted professional advisor to ensure compliance and a smooth transaction.

Strategic giving leads to local giving.

High net worth donors are becoming more intentional and strategic in their charitable giving, focusing on outcomes, alignment with personal values, and long-term impact rather than making purely reactive or broad-based donations. Alongside these changes is a growing preference for supporting local organizations, such as the North Carolina Community Foundation’s affiliate community foundations, for those who increasingly want to see the direct effects of their contributions within their own communities.

Your NCCF team can help you support what you care most about. We are here to listen, guide and turn your generosity into impact while handling all the administrative details. Making a difference requires more than a map; it requires the on-the-ground knowledge of communities and their needs that our team has.

Hands-on local involvement and proactive planning go hand in hand.

Donors using donor advised funds are particularly locally focused, as evidenced by volunteering statistics. These donors are significantly more likely to volunteer their time within their own communities, demonstrating deeper, hands-on engagement with the organizations they support. If you regularly volunteer with a nonprofit, think about how you can continue your support through a succession plan for your NCCF fund.

To learn how these trends might apply to you, reach out to your Donor Engagement Officer at NCCF. Our team makes it easy for you to give back. We are happy to work with you and your advisors to structure a charitable giving plan that meets your overall financial and estate planning goals. while also ensuring that your wealth can create stronger communities for generations to come.

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.