Introduction
We're excited to share that Phoenix Hafen, of UI Charitable, recently appeared as a guest on Wealth Strategy Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy, hosted by Dave Wolcott. The conversation gave Phoenix a chance to speak directly to entrepreneurs and investors about a question we hear often: how do you make giving back part of a smart, tax-efficient wealth strategy instead of an afterthought?
About the Podcast
Wealth Strategy Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy is a show built around helping business owners and investors think holistically about their finances, from tax planning to legacy building. The show is known for practical, strategy-driven conversations with experts across wealth management, and this episode brought that same lens to charitable giving.
Episode Highlights
In this episode, Phoenix discussed:
Why writing a check is often the least tax-efficient way to give, and why donating appreciated assets, like business interests, real estate, securities, or crypto, can create a bigger charitable deduction while avoiding capital gains tax
How Donor-Advised Funds work as a flexible giving vehicle, letting donors separate the timing of their tax deduction from when charities actually receive the funds
Why philanthropic planning should happen before a liquidity event, such as a business or real estate sale, rather than after the taxes are already paid
Key Takeaways
If you have a business sale, real estate sale, or other liquidity event on the horizon, start the giving conversation early. Donating a portion of an appreciated asset before it sells can reduce your capital gains exposure and increase your deduction.
A Donor-Advised Fund can make sense once annual giving reaches roughly the $20,000–$30,000 range, offering many of the benefits of a private foundation with far less overhead.
Forecasting five to ten years of planned giving and front-loading it into a high-income year is one of the most effective ways to offset taxes while still supporting the causes you care about.
Why It Matters
This conversation reflects what UI Charitable works on with clients every day: helping people give in a way that's both meaningful and financially sound. Whether someone already knows exactly which causes they want to support or is still figuring out where their philanthropic interests lie, the goal is the same, building a giving strategy that reflects their values and makes the most of their resources.
Listen and Learn More
Listen to the full episode: https://youtu.be/EqP_vL0ODno?si=D6IpcJvjgMEP47Ic
Learn more about Wealth Strategy Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy: https://pantheoninvest.com/podcast/
Learn more about UI Charitable: uicharitable.org
