IRA Beneficiary-Designation Gift Ensures Future Support of The Morton Arboretum

Longtime Morton Arboretum volunteer Lynne Friedlander moved to nearby Naperville in 1987 while working as Curator of Collections at Naperville Settlement. When her mother, who loved hiking, visited over Mother’s Day weekend, they came to the Arboretum to walk. “It was during that visit that I realized how lucky we were to have something so wonderful so close by,” she says. “It was a gift.”

To help ensure that the Arboretum remains vibrant for future generations, Lynne has made an IRA beneficiary-designation gift. “When I originally created my estate plan, I intended to make a gift through my trust,” she says. “But my attorney suggested I consider an IRA beneficiary designation instead, due to the tax implications it could have on my kids if they were the beneficiaries of my IRA. It absolutely seemed like the right decision. My children could be taken care of through other means, without the undesirable tax consequences.”

Lynne says it was easy to arrange. “To change your beneficiaries in a trust is a much bigger deal. Instead of having to make those changes through an attorney, you can just do it through your financial institution.” Lynne was also motivated by the impact her giving will have on the Arboretum, “I hope I am helping an organization that I care so deeply about and feel connected to in so many ways. I want it to be around for another 100 years or more.”

Now retired and living in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lynne appreciates that the Arboretum is a leader and collaborator among other arboreta. “The Morton Arboretum is currently working with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden on a project involving oaks. The Arboretum is a respected leader in the field. What they are doing goes so far beyond their borders.”

Lynne encourages others to consider the many types of legacy gifts they could leave to support the Arboretum’s future. “If people want to help ensure it is there for years after we are gone, do it!” she concludes. “It is a very meaningful way to be able to give to such a great organization. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it can have a significant impact.”