MEDIQUS Asset Advisors, Inc. is a valued supporter of the AASM Foundation. Most recently, MEDIQUS sponsored our Special Celebration honoring the 50th anniversary of the AASM, where attendees gathered for drinks, dinner, and fellowship to celebrate the achievements that have advanced sleep medicine. 

We asked Matt Paprocki, Senior Vice President of MEDIQUS Asset Advisors, Inc., to share more about MEDIQUS’ support of the AASM Foundation and how individuals can think more intentionally about charitable giving. 

Why does MEDIQUS choose to support the AASM Foundation?  

MEDIQUS chooses to support the AASM Foundation because its work improves sleep health in ways that directly benefit individuals and communities, addressing an issue that is foundational to overall physical and mental well-being.  

The entire Foundation team is always thoughtful, passionate, and committed to the organization’s vision. Because of this, we couldn’t be more confident that the support is going to an organization that will always make the most of it. 

Can you discuss how MEDIQUS developed a long history of advising physicians and medical nonprofits?

Key members of the MEDIQUS team have focused on helping physicians and not-for-profit organizations for nearly 35 years. Our President and CEO (Ron Paprocki) helped run AMA Investment Advisers, Inc., a for-profit subsidiary of the American Medical Association, until its dissolution in 1996. Since then, MEDIQUS has had the pleasure of working with doctors and medical societies in over 45 states, helping to guide them to develop and implement strategies intended to support their financial goals. 

As a result of these experiences, the team at MEDIQUS believes too many physicians are overworked and spend less time with the people they love, doing the things they love to do. This leads to more stress, aggravation, and for some, extreme burnout. As a result, they are not devoting the time necessary to address their financial independence and dignity. MEDIQUS follows a process designed to guide these physicians and not-for-profit organizations in a manner that keeps their goals in focus and actions as efficient and timely as possible.  

What are the different ways for individuals to make an impact with charitable giving?  

There are many ways for individuals to give, and each has their own considerations. A few are briefly described below for illustrative and educational purposes only. 

Appreciated assets: This strategy involves giving appreciated assets, such as stocks, mutual funds, or exchange traded funds (ETFs)–held in a taxable account–to a specific charity. This method of giving can provide tax benefits beyond an income tax deduction. For example, if someone owns stock initially purchased for $1,000 and now worth $10,000, they can donate that stock to a favorite charity.  

The charitable deduction claimed by the donor would be based on the current market value of the stock ($10,000), not the original purchase price. The charity could then sell the stock, thus the donor can avoid the capital gains tax that would have been incurred had they first sold the appreciated stock to make a cash contribution. 

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs): With a DAF, a donor contributes assets (e.g., stocks) to the fund, and the market value of the assets becomes the deductible amount.  

The DAF then sells those assets and reinvests the proceeds in a menu of investment options within the fund. The donor can then recommend grants from the fund to various charitable organizations.  

This can be a strategy for individuals with appreciated assets who want the flexibility to make gifts to multiple charities over several years.  Donor-advised funds offer a relatively flexible approach to charitable giving while providing potential tax benefits (it’s important to note that administrative or investment fees may apply to DAFs). 

Qualified Charitable Distributions: This strategy is available to any IRA owner over age 70½. A QCD allows the direct transfer of up to $111,000 per taxpayer, per year from an IRA to a qualified charity. This distribution is not taxed – subject to IRS rules and individual circumstances – and the donor doesn’t need to itemize the deduction. IRA owners over age 73 can utilize a QCD as part of their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and support a favorite charitable cause while potentially reducing their taxable income. 

Cash donations: This simple method consists of writing a check or using a credit card to make a charitable donation. While this is a common and convenient way to give, there are other giving strategies. 

What advice would you give someone who wants to start thinking more intentionally about their charitable impact?  

There are so many important questions and conversations to have when considering charitable or planned giving. Based on our experience, we encourage people to have conversations focusing on a number of different issues such as: 

  • How will giving impact my financial future? 
  • How will giving impact my family’s financial future? 
  • How will my giving be used today? In the future? 
  • Who benefits from what I’ve saved? 

By identifying these, the details around what exactly to give, how much, when, etc. become much more manageable.

 

 

Disclaimers: 

The information provided on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Charitable giving strategies and tax considerations vary based on individual circumstances and are subject to change. Individuals should consult their own financial, tax, or legal advisors before implementing any strategy. 

References to MEDIQUS’s experience are not intended to imply any specific investment outcomes or performance.