Giving starts with a cause you care about. But once you decide to give, another question follows: What is the most effective way to do it? Writing a check may be the simplest option, but it is not always the most effective.

In Episode 44 of The Decision Dividend, Pat Collins and Marcus Schafer continue their conversation on intentional philanthropy by exploring the financial-planning and tax considerations behind charitable giving.

• How to choose the right giving strategy based on your goals, tax situation, and stage of life.
• Ways to make charitable dollars go further, from appreciated investments and donor-advised funds to qualified charitable distributions.
• When advanced planning strategies may make sense for families focused on legacy, estate planning, and long-term impact.

The goal is not simply to reduce taxes. It is to coordinate your giving with your investments, income, estate plan, and the impact you want your charitable dollars to have.

If giving is part of your plan, this episode can help you understand the options and ask better questions before you act.

Chapters

00:00 From the “Why” to the “How” of Charitable Giving 01:43 Start with Your Financial Plan 03:10 The Real Financial Cost of Giving 06:13 Standard vs. Itemized Deductions 10:45 How New Tax Rules Affect Charitable Giving 12:19 Bunching Multiple Years of Charitable Giving 16:14 Why a Tax Projection Helps 17:30 Donating Appreciated Investments Instead of Cash 20:14 Resetting Cost Basis and Diversifying Your Portfolio 24:21 How Donor-Advised Funds Work 29:34 Qualified Charitable Distributions from an IRA 33:09 A Common QCD Tax-Reporting Mistake 36:27 Private Foundations 42:36 A New Deduction for Cash Gifts 43:19 Charitable Trusts 48:46 Putting the Charitable Giving Strategies Together 50:10 Giving Well Requires Planning

If you missed Episode 43, our conversation with the CEO of the Baltimore Community Foundation explores how to evaluate causes, nonprofits, and philanthropic impact before deciding where to give. Watch Episode 43: How to Give More Intentionally with Dr. Shanaysha Sauls

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Information contained herein has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. It is not intended as the primary basis for financial planning or investment decisions and should not be construed as advice meeting the particular investment needs of any investor. This material has been prepared for information purposes only and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This material is not tax or legal advice. Consult qualified tax and legal professionals before implementing a charitable-giving strategy.

Giving sounds easy. Giving well takes thought.

In Episode 43 of The Decision Dividend, Dr. Shanaysha Sauls, President & CEO of the Baltimore Community Foundation, joins us to discuss her simple framework for charitable decision-making.

Gut. Head. Heart.

Together we discuss: • How thoughtful donors evaluate nonprofits before making significant gifts • What Form 990s and funding sources can reveal about a nonprofit's financial resilience • Why overhead is often misunderstood and impact is difficult to measure • How families can transfer not just wealth, but philanthropic values and legacy • How businesses can develop a giving strategy that reflects their values and community priorities

Chapters

00:00 Giving Sounds Easy. Giving Well Takes Thought. 06:21 What Community Foundations Actually Do 09:43 Defining Your Philanthropic Why 14:55 Gut. Head. Heart. 19:22 Understanding Nonprofit Funding Sources 26:04 The Truth About Overhead 32:36 Measuring Impact Beyond Outputs 39:44 Transferring Legacy Across Generations 47:51 Building a Corporate Giving Strategy 52:29 The One Question Every Donor Should Ask

Follow The Decision Dividend Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Follow on Spotify

Subscribe for Episode Updates

Information contained herein has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. It is not intended as the primary basis for financial planning or investment decisions and should not be construed as advice meeting the particular investment needs of any investor. This material has been prepared for information purposes only and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This material is not tax or legal advice. Consult qualified tax and legal professionals before implementing a charitable-giving strategy.

What it is, why it matters, and who really sets it.

Interest rates influence nearly every financial decision, from what you earn on cash to what you pay on a mortgage and how stocks, bonds, real estate, and businesses are valued. But despite how often we hear about “the interest rate,” there is no single rate, and the Federal Reserve does not control all interest rates.

In Episode 42 of The Decision Dividend, Pat Collins and Marcus Schafer explain the risk-free rate, the forces that shape it, and what changes in interest rates actually mean for savers and borrowers.

You’ll learn:

• Why “the interest rate” is actually a curve with different rates for different time periods
• How the Federal Reserve and financial markets each influence interest rates
• How changing rates may affect your cash, debt, investments, taxes, and financial plan

Market rates and statistics are as of August 27, 2026.

Sources

1. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, “15 Selected Interest Rates.”
2. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “Monetary Policy Implementation.”
3. Eugene F. Fama, “Does the Fed Control Interest Rates?” The Review of Asset Pricing Studies, 2013. Fama, “Does the Fed Control Interest Rates?”
4. John H. Cochrane, “Who Is Walking Who?” 2015. Cochrane, “Who Is Walking Who?”
5. Dimensional Fund Advisors, “What Happens to Stocks When Interest Rates Change?”
6. Vanguard, “Why Higher Yields May Be Good for Many Retirement Investors,” 2023.
7. Federal Reserve H.15 and Federal Reserve Bank of New York for rates
8. Investment Company Institute [for money market fund assets] https://www.ici.org/research/stats/mmf
9. YCharts https://www.linkedin.com/posts/-justinbrown_investing-chartoftheweek-activity-7498762196001157120-vdPh?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADVDgmAB8c4Wr1FL_cn1hvA9192lEx_eUYQ

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Information contained herein has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. It is not intended as the primary basis for financial planning or investment decisions and should not be construed as advice meeting the particular investment needs of any investor. This material has been prepared for information purposes only and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.