Betty Krejci Director of Estate Planning

Welcome to the Western Washington University Estate Planning website!  If this is your first visit, please feel free to browse.  If you are a return visitor, please check out the Finance News.  This section tracks what is going on currently in the economy.

I would also invite you to go in to the Planning Tools section and review the two new planning documents for your use.  These will help you preparefor a visit to your own financial and legal advisors and set goals for your estate planning.

2009 brings with it some new tax issues.  If you have calculated a gift in the past but have not yet made the gift, you should run a new calculation to reflect these rate changes.

The information on the webiste is updated weekly so we hope you will return many times. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me Betty.Krejci@wwu.edu.  I look forward to helping you as you begin your estate planning!

What is estate gift planning and what are the benefits?

"Gift Planning" is an exciting way to fulfill philanthropic goals, because planning a gift through your estate provides not only a gift in support of Western Washington University but also multiple financial and tax benefits to you and your family. The right type of planned gift will depend greatly on your personal situation, needs and objectives.

• Hear from other donors.
• Learn about different gift planning options.
• Meet our gift planning staff. We are here to help you.

Each of you have different circumstances and goals for your financial planning.  In this section you can explore how to use different vehicles to achieve different outcomes.  I hope you will browse through the examples provided and think about your own financial situation.

Once you have decided what you hope to achieve, we will work with you and your financial and legal advisors to come up with a plan that meets your financial and charitable goals.  Everything is complimentary, confidential and without obligation.  Please take a look through the options available and contact us as you need assistance.

A Bequest to Further Good Work Nancy and David Atkins were dedicated volunteers. Over the years, they had seen many individuals impacted by the good work of our organization. They wanted to create a legacy to provide future support to continue our mission. More on A Bequest to Further Good Work >>.

Capital Gains Tax Bypassed Peter and Gail Williamson were nearing retirement. Over the years, with the help of their financial advisor, they made solid investments in securities and built a sizable portfolio. More on Capital Gains Tax Bypassed >>.

Generous IRA Gift Jerry is a fireman who volunteers for a number of charities in his community. Recently, Western Washington University shared an opportunity to join in a new program with a positive impact. Jerry was excited to help, but a lead gift of $10,000 was needed to start the program. More on Generous IRA Gift >>.

Flexible Deferred Gift Annuity Lewis is a 54-year-old executive at a large healthcare company. He purchased company stock during years when the stock price was low, and now the stock has grown substantially to $118,000. More on Flexible Deferred Gift Annuity >>.

Personal Planner

Perils of Probate Business Owner passed away on April 5, 1976, with an estate of $2.5 billion. Many persons appeared claiming "I am Business Owner's heir" and submitted wills with themselves as beneficiaries. More ...