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Giving

Giving Back to St. Michael's a 'Win-Win'

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Will Infantine

By: Mark Tarnacki, Staff Writer

Will Infantine '86 was a noble Knight twice over in the early 1990s when he made a gift to Saint Michael's College of a $30,000 Knights of Columbus life insurance policy.

A Third Degree Knight in the Catholic fraternal service organization that offered the policy, Will says the core life values behind his gift took solid root during his Saint Michael's Purple Knights days. "To me this was a win-win since I could buy a policy that contributes to the K of C and make St. Mike's a beneficiary, so both Catholic agencies benefit," he says. "One reason I give back to Saint Michael's is because it helped mold me both as a businessman and as an individual." Today Will is a successful Manchester, N.H., insurance executive and veteran Republican state lawmaker in his home state.

With the type of insurance gift Will chose, Saint Michael's is both the owner and beneficiary of the policy. To support payment of premiums on that policy, Will makes quarterly tax-deductible contributions equal to the premium amount to the College.

It was the beauty of the Saint Michael's campus on a winter's day and the polite, friendly people he met that sold Will on the College when he made his first visit as a New Hampshire high school senior. "I was looking for a business education and preferred to stay with a Catholic institution," he adds.

Some of his favorite college memories were fun-filled road trips as a club rugby player, a massive snowstorm a week before P-Day one year, evening Masses in the chapel, Thursday TV nights in the Ratskeller campus pub, a semester studying abroad in London, serving as sophomore class vice president, Hurricane Gloria blowing through Vermont, and a particularly epic ski day on two fresh feet of powder. He's also grateful to his business professor, the late George Fortune, for conveying so much practical knowledge that has been very important in Will's business career.

"What I learned best at St. Mike's was how to learn, and I learned to deal with people," he says. "I was relatively sheltered growing up in small-town New Hampshire, but at St. Mike's I got to meet people with different issues, or who maybe had tragedies in their lives or who were from different walks of life - some good to deal with, some difficult -but in real life you have to learn to deal with both."

Will still remembers how his case study for a senior, two-semester business management class was planning a peanut butter factory. Planning involved "everything from human resources to manufacturing to production, and it gave me my first real understanding of the whole business process." he says. "It opened my eyes to the nuts and bolts of a business, how everything comes together." He applies a lot of those insights directly to the operation of his insurance business, Will says.

As a New Hampshire state legislator, Will repeatedly finds himself grateful for his broader liberal arts background from Saint Mike's since he's called on to understand such a wide array of issues, "bills from education to criminal justice to science and technology."

His volunteer support of Saint Michael's has evolved steadily through the years: An early job in his career took him to San Antonio, Texas, where he hosted some alumni events and even a visit from the College president while helping to recruit students. Since returning home to New Hampshire many years ago, Will has served as chair of his local alumni club, helped with College fairs and supported the campaign to fund the new Fire and Rescue Station. Will and his wife, Christine, have two daughters, ages 13 and 11, and he says he would be pleased for either of them to attend Saint Michael's and will encourage them to give the College a close look.

"While I was fortunate enough not to need it when I was a student, I know Saint Mike's provides substantial financial aid for students and that's important to support. I also know if students do well at St. Mike's, they'll do well in the business world and be able to give back, which is something we should all try to do," he says. "Also, you can't forget the many things the College does to help the community. I would just say to my fellow alumni that if you donate to Saint Michael's, the money is very well spent - I wouldn't have any worries about that."

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A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Saint Michael’s College a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

“I give, bequeath, and devise to Saint Michael’s College, an educational organization established by law at One Winooski Park, Box 256, Colchester, Vermont 05439, whose Federal Tax ID number is 03-0179403 [here follows the dollar amount or percentage of the gift, or an accurate description of the securities, insurance policies, retirement funds, or the amount or percentage of the residual estate, or the real estate or other assets given].”

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to Saint Michael's College or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Saint Michael's College as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Saint Michael's College as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and Saint Michael's College where you agree to make a gift to Saint Michael's College and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.

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