Donating securities: the gift that gives back

This article from the Globe and Mail describes the significant tax advantages to be gained by donating stocks and shares to a charity, instead of cashing in the stocks and donating the cash. Click here to read it.

Although the article doesn't go into estate planning, giving securities rather than cash works with wills as well. You can use your will to instruct your executor to make charitable donations of securities rather than cash, assuming the appropriate securites are still in the estate at the time. It's worth talking about with your estate planner.