A Legacy Made Simple

One of the simplest ways to make a legacy gift to the the Missouri Botanical Garden is with a beneficiary designation for your financial accounts or other assets. It’s usually as simple as filling out a form—no need to re-write your will or other estate planning documents. You can name the the Missouri Botanical Garden as the sole beneficiary or as one of several, perhaps designating some to the Garden and the rest to your family or others.

A beneficiary designation contribution offers significant benefits for you:

  • Flexible: you can change your beneficiary designation at any time
  • Easy to arrange: you will find no need to change your will
  • Tax advantageous: your contribution is not subject to income or estate taxes

Accounts and assets to designate Include:

Bank account: You can instruct your bank to pay all or a portion of what remains in your checking or savings account to the the Missouri Botanical Garden. Your bank can provide you with the appropriate forms.

Investment account: You can instruct your investment company to transfer to the the Missouri Botanical Garden some or all of the investments held in your account at end of your lifetime. There may be an online form, or your broker or agent can help you with the process.

Retirement accounts: A beneficiary designation contribution from your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or most other qualified retirement plans can save taxes for your heirs. If you leave your retirement accounts to others, the distributions will be subject to income tax. However, when these accounts pass to the the Missouri Botanical Garden, there is no income tax. Leaving your retirement account to the Garden and reserving other assets for your heirs saves taxes. Your retirement plan administrator can show you how to designate the Garden as a beneficiary of a percentage of your account or a specific dollar amount.

Life insurance policies: Simply complete and return to your insurance company a form designating that the the Missouri Botanical Garden receive all or a portion of your policy’s death benefit.