Over the years, Page Snow has worked with a number of extraordinarily passionate, transformative philanthropists, many of whom discovered their interest in philanthropy only after they’d retired from their professional careers.
After completing their estate plan, providing for their kids, taking all the trips that they’d dreamt about, and buying all the usual toys, they discovered the one thing that was left to want: to be remembered for something beyond their business acumen or financial success.
After retirement, immortality
As we grow older, we reflect on how we want to be remembered. What aspects of our lives do we want to endure beyond our own lifetime? How do we know that our lives truly mattered? Very few people have the opportunity or financial wherewithal to create their own legacy. Bill Gates (who has both) might be remembered a few years from now not only as the software pioneer, but also as the man who eliminated malaria.
Establishing one’s legacy entails putting a stamp on the future – making a contribution to future generations. A private foundation or donor-advised fund can be a useful tool in adopting such a longer–term perspective. Because both vehicles can be handed down from one generation to the next, they can keep your good works going and ensure that your values and ideas live on.