Inspired to give more (Tamara)
I wish that I had opened a donor advised fund much, much earlier. The charitable account that we have through Schwab Charitable is fantastic. When I go back to contribute to an organization I've contributed to in the past, it is so easy to just contribute again. And everything is consolidated. So it helps around tax time as well.
The Schwab Charitable account has definitely made the process of contributing so much easier that we've contributed more frequently to a wider variety of charities and causes, and also, in larger amounts than we have in the past.
It feels great to contribute to a charity, but the fact that the Schwab Charitable account has made that so easy, it's almost liberating. I usually will put a lump sum in at the beginning of the year into the Schwab Charitable account. Once I've done that, I've earmarked that for contributions. It almost feels like free money, and that's part of what makes it feel very liberating and easy.
I have recommended the Schwab Charitable account often—to coworkers, to friends, to family, and I always say the same thing, which is I don't understand why you wouldn't have one. I think there's a misperception that it's only for the super wealthy and if you're older. The fact is, the Schwab Charitable account, especially the way that it's set up, is for anyone.