In certain cases, I can show in numbers that it’s better to give than receive. That’s not a feel-good cliché — it’s a tax strategy hiding in plain sight for anyone in or near retirement.

As a financial advisor in Lexington, Kentucky, I work with a lot of generous families who are giving from the wrong account — or who don’t yet know they could be giving at all. Understanding how RMDs, QCDs, and DAFs work together is one of the most valuable conversations I have with families approaching retirement.

In this episode of The Groundwork, I walk through each acronym in plain English — what it is, what mistake most people make, and how a coordinated strategy can help you reduce unnecessary taxes while giving with intention and out of abundance.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

What an RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) is, when it starts, and how it’s calculated
Why ignoring or delaying your RMD can lead to a forced tax bomb from the IRS

What a QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution) is and how it works starting at age 70½
Why giving from your IRA instead of cash can be a win-win-win-win for you and your charity

What a DAF (Donor Advised Fund) is and how gift bunching maximizes your tax deduction
How to coordinate QCDs and DAFs to give strategically while protecting your retirement picture

Want help connecting these dots before retirement forces the decision?

If you’re a family in Lexington, Central Kentucky, or anywhere across the Bluegrass — and you’d like to understand your required withdrawals, mitigate the taxes on them, and build a giving strategy that works for you — I’d be happy and honored to start with a conversation.