Katie Kuehner-Hebert

The tax and financial advantages of a charitable gift annuity are substantial, but sometimes oversold. Make sure donor clients understand how these annuities work.

Clients who attend charity dinners or concerts need to take precautions on their tax returns.

There are a surprising variety of ways for clients to support charities, even if they don't have extra cash to give.

Clients who attend charity dinners or concerts need to take precautions on their tax returns.

There are a surprising variety of ways for clients to support charities, even if they don't have extra cash to give.

Art, antiques or other collections can make valuable donations -- with tax benefits to boot. Help make sure clients comply with IRS rules and get the highest possible deductions.

Art, antiques or other collections can make valuable donations -- with tax benefits to boot. Help make sure clients comply with IRS rules and get the highest possible deductions.

Changes in IRS rules have made the paperwork more onerous and the tax breaks less generous. Advisors should examine clients' reasons for giving, and make sure they act well before year-end.

Changes in IRS rules have made the paperwork more onerous and the tax breaks less generous. Advisors should examine clients' reasons for giving, and make sure they act well before year-end.

As strategies for charitable giving become more complicated, software can help planners, clients, attorneys and accountants evaluate different options.

As strategies for charitable giving become more complicated, software can help planners, clients, attorneys and accountants evaluate different options.

Studies show that helping clients plan their charitable giving can strengthen planners' relationships -- and their businesses.

Studies show that helping clients plan their charitable giving can strengthen planners' relationships -- and their businesses.

The tax and financial advantages of a charitable gift annuity are substantial, but sometimes oversold. Make sure donor clients understand how these annuities work.

It pays to make tax-related decisions when time is on your side.

It pays to make tax-related decisions when time is on your side.

Planners who started their professional lives in other fields identify the crossover skills that make them successful.

While annuities have become more widely accepted as a vital part of a retirement strategy, there are millions of Americans who still aren't opting for them.

While a number of major carriers have exited the annuity industry due to capital constraints, continued volatility and historically low interest rates, key players contend that there is still plenty of capacity to meet growing market demand.

"The industry has been in an interesting transformation," said Catherine J. Weatherford, president and CEO of the Insured Retirement Institute. "The financial crisis hit banks rapidly, but for the life insurance industry, it took a while for the issues from the crisis to develop."