Financial Answer Center

You may be concerned about the financial security of family members and their need for the assets you intend to give to charity. By using a wealth replacement trust (WRT) with a charitable remainder trust (CRT), you can provide for both the charity and your heirs.

The WRT is funded with a new life insurance policy paying the proceeds to the trust on your death. Your heirs are the beneficiaries of the WRT. So, even though you have given money to charity, the amount your heirs receive is not diminished. Also, because the insurance policy is owned by the WRT, the proceeds are not taxable to your estate.