Should You Use a Donor-Advised Fund in the Same Year as a Roth Conversion?

You’re 62.

You have $1.8 million in a traditional IRA.

You also give about $20,000 to charity every year.

Now you’re considering a $200,000 Roth conversion.

You look at the projected tax bill and think:

“If I’m going to give the money away anyway, could I make several years of charitable gifts now and get a larger deduction in the same year as the conversion?”

That’s where a donor-advised fund can enter the conversation.

Instead of giving $20,000 directly to charities every year, you might consider contributing a larger amount to a donor-advised fund in one year.

You may potentially receive a charitable deduction in the contribution year when applicable requirements are satisfied.

Then grants can generally be recommended from the donor-advised fund to eligible charities over time.

That creates an interesting planning opportunity.

Could you intentionally bunch charitable giving into a Roth conversion year?

Potentially.

But there’s a big difference between coordinating a charitable deduction with a conversion and pretending the donation makes the conversion tax disappear.

Quick Answer: Can a Donor-Advised Fund Help in a Roth Conversion Year?

Potentially.

If charitable giving is already part of your plan, contributing several years of intended gifts to a donor-advised fund in one year may create a larger charitable deduction for that year, subject to applicable federal tax rules and limitations.

That deduction can affect the overall tax calculation during a year when you’re also recognizing taxable Roth conversion income.

But the strategy isn’t as simple as:

“Convert $200,000 and donate $200,000, so the conversion is tax-free.”

Charitable deduction rules, adjusted gross income limitations, itemization, the type of property donated, carryforward rules, and other tax items matter.

The donation and conversion need to be modeled together, then reviewed with your tax professional.

What Is a Donor-Advised Fund?

A donor-advised fund, often called a DAF, is a charitable giving account maintained by a sponsoring charitable organization.

You make an irrevocable charitable contribution to the sponsoring organization.

When applicable requirements are satisfied, you may be eligible for a charitable income-tax deduction in the year of the contribution.

You can then generally recommend grants from the account to eligible charitable organizations over time, subject to the sponsor’s rules and legal control over the assets.

This separates two decisions:

When you make the charitable contribution.

And:

When grants are ultimately recommended to charities.

That timing difference is one reason DAFs can become interesting around Roth conversions.

Example: Five Years of Charitable Giving in One Year

Suppose you normally give $20,000 per year.

Over five years, that’s $100,000.

Instead of contributing $20,000 each year, you decide that you genuinely want to commit the next five years of planned giving now.

You contribute $100,000 to a donor-advised fund.

Subject to applicable tax rules, you may potentially receive a charitable deduction associated with that contribution in the current year.

You can then recommend grants from the DAF over future years.

Now suppose this is also a year when you’re considering a Roth conversion.

That’s where the strategies meet.

The Important Word Is “Already”

This strategy makes much more sense when charitable giving is something you already intended to do.

If you were going to give $100,000 to charity over the next several years anyway, changing the timing may deserve analysis.

But don’t give away $100,000 you never intended to give just because you’re worried about a Roth conversion tax bill.

You don’t become wealthier by giving away a dollar solely to save a fraction of a dollar in taxes.

The charitable goal comes first.

The tax coordination comes second.

A Charitable Deduction Is Not a Tax Credit

This distinction matters.

A deduction generally reduces taxable income when applicable rules are satisfied.

It doesn’t generally reduce your tax bill dollar-for-dollar the way a dollar-for-dollar tax credit would.

So if you contribute $50,000 to a donor-advised fund, don’t assume:

“I just saved $50,000 in taxes.”

That’s not how the math works.

Can the Deduction Directly Offset Roth Conversion Income?

A qualifying charitable deduction can affect taxable income in a year when you also have Roth conversion income.

But there are rules and limitations governing charitable deductions.

The amount actually deductible in the current year can depend on factors including:

• Your adjusted gross income
• The type of property contributed
• The type of recipient organization
• Whether you itemize
• Applicable percentage limitations
• Other charitable contributions
• Potential carryforward treatment

That’s why I don’t want to say:

“Donate $100,000 and convert an extra $100,000.”

Have your tax professional calculate the actual deduction.

Why Bunching Can Matter

Suppose you make charitable contributions every year but your total itemized deductions don’t create the tax result you expected each year.

One strategy some taxpayers consider is bunching multiple years of charitable giving into a single year.

A donor-advised fund can make that easier because you can make the charitable contribution to the sponsoring organization now while recommending grants to eligible charities later.

That can potentially create a larger charitable deduction in one selected year when applicable requirements are met.

A Roth conversion year may be one of the years worth comparing.

Example: $150,000 Roth Conversion and a DAF Contribution

Suppose you’re 63 and married.

You have:

• $1.6 million traditional IRA
• $250,000 Roth IRA
• $900,000 taxable investments
• $300,000 cash

You normally give $25,000 per year to charity.

You’re considering a $150,000 Roth conversion.

One scenario could be:

Continue giving $25,000 annually.

Another could be:

Fund several years of intended charitable giving into a donor-advised fund during the conversion year.

Then compare the projected tax and retirement outcomes.

What If I Have Highly Appreciated Stock?

This is where a DAF can become even more interesting.

Suppose you bought stock years ago for $50,000.

It’s now worth $200,000.

You want to give a substantial amount to charity.

Your first instinct might be:

“I’ll sell the stock and donate the cash.”

But selling appreciated investments can create capital gains.

Some donor-advised fund sponsors accept appreciated publicly traded securities and other non-cash assets, subject to their policies and applicable tax rules.

Contributing appreciated assets directly rather than selling them first may produce a different tax result.

That deserves discussion with your tax and financial professionals.

Don’t Sell Appreciated Stock Automatically Before Giving

If you already intend to make a significant charitable gift and own appreciated securities, pause before selling them.

Ask:

“Can the charitable organization or DAF sponsor accept the asset directly?”

If it can, compare that route with selling the investment and donating cash.

The difference can matter when a Roth conversion is also occurring in the same year.

Could I Donate Appreciated Stock and Convert IRA Money?

Potentially.

Conceptually, you might:

• Contribute appreciated taxable assets to a DAF
• Potentially receive a charitable deduction subject to applicable rules
• Avoid personally selling those particular donated assets
• Convert selected traditional IRA assets to Roth

But each part of that strategy has its own tax treatment.

Don’t collapse them into one transaction mentally.

Why This Can Appeal to Someone Near Retirement

You may have spent 30 years building wealth.

Now you’re thinking about three things at once:

How much do we need?

What do we want the kids to receive?

What do we want to give away while we’re alive?

Those aren’t separate questions anymore.

If charitable giving matters to you, it should be included in the retirement strategy before deciding how much IRA money to convert.

What If I Want to Give to Several Charities?

That’s one reason some people like donor-advised funds.

You can potentially make one contribution to the sponsoring organization and later recommend grants to multiple eligible charities under the sponsor’s procedures.

You don’t necessarily need to decide today exactly how every future grant will be allocated.

But remember:

Once you contribute assets to a donor-advised fund, the contribution is generally irrevocable.

The sponsoring organization has legal control of the contributed assets.

This isn’t an account you can take back later because retirement got expensive.

Liquidity Matters

This is a major consideration for retirees.

Suppose you have $500,000 outside your retirement accounts.

You contribute $200,000 to a DAF.

You also use $100,000 of outside money to address Roth conversion taxes.

You’ve now committed a significant amount of your liquid outside wealth.

Maybe that’s completely comfortable.

Maybe it’s too aggressive.

Don’t create a tax-efficient charitable strategy that leaves you feeling cash-poor in retirement.

What If I Need the Money Later?

Then don’t contribute money to a donor-advised fund that you may need personally.

A DAF contribution is charitable.

It’s not a reserve account.

It’s not your emergency fund.

It’s not your long-term care fund.

It’s not money you can reclaim because the market fell.

Your retirement plan needs enough assets remaining outside the charitable account.

Is a DAF the Same as a QCD?

No.

This distinction is important.

A qualified charitable distribution, or QCD, involves an eligible distribution directly from an IRA to an eligible charitable organization under specific federal rules.

A donor-advised fund contribution is a different strategy.

Under current federal rules, donor-advised funds generally aren’t eligible recipients for QCDs.

Don’t send an IRA distribution to a DAF and assume it qualifies as a QCD.

Why Would Someone Use a DAF Instead of a QCD?

The strategies solve different problems.

A DAF may be useful for someone who:

• Wants to bunch charitable giving
• Has appreciated taxable assets
• Wants to make a large charitable contribution now
• Wants to recommend grants over time
• Isn’t relying solely on IRA-based charitable giving

A QCD has its own eligibility requirements and potential benefits.

One isn’t automatically better.

Could Using a DAF Reduce How Much I Want to Convert?

Yes.

That’s possible too.

Suppose you make a substantial charitable contribution.

You now have less outside liquidity.

Maybe that makes you uncomfortable using additional cash to address conversion taxes.

The charitable strategy could therefore lead to a smaller Roth conversion rather than a larger one.

That’s why we run the whole balance sheet.

Could the DAF Let Me Convert More?

Potentially, if the resulting allowable deduction changes the tax picture enough and the larger conversion still makes sense within the broader retirement plan.

But the word allowable matters.

Don’t select the conversion amount from the face value of the donation.

Have the deduction calculated under the actual tax rules.

What If the Deduction Can’t All Be Used This Year?

Applicable federal rules can allow certain unused charitable deductions to carry forward, subject to requirements and limitations.

That means a large charitable contribution doesn’t necessarily produce its entire potential income-tax benefit in the contribution year.

This is another reason you need tax projections before finalizing the Roth conversion.

What If I Take the Standard Deduction?

Then the charitable deduction question becomes especially important.

Simply making a charitable contribution doesn’t mean every dollar automatically creates an incremental federal income-tax benefit.

Itemization and other tax rules matter.

Bunching is partly about intentionally changing the timing of deductions rather than assuming the same annual giving pattern always produces the strongest result.

What If I Already Give $50,000 or $100,000 a Year?

Then this can become a significant planning issue.

For a household giving substantial amounts annually, charitable planning shouldn’t be added after the Roth conversion decision.

It should be on the same page.

You may have:

• Large IRA balances
• Appreciated stock
• Annual charitable commitments
• Future QCD opportunities
• Estate goals
• Roth conversion opportunities

Those pieces can interact.

What If I Want My Kids Involved in Giving?

For some families, charitable giving isn’t just about a deduction.

It’s part of the legacy.

You may want your children involved in conversations about which organizations the family supports.

A donor-advised fund can potentially become part of that broader charitable planning structure, subject to the sponsor’s policies.

That changes the meaning of the money.

It’s no longer simply:

“How much tax can we save?”

It’s:

“What do we want this money to do?”

The Identity Conflict: Giving Money Away While Protecting Retirement

This is where people get uncomfortable.

You want to be generous.

But you also spent decades building the money.

You think:

“I want to give, but I don’t want to give so much that we regret it later.”

That’s reasonable.

Retirement generosity and retirement security have to coexist.

“We Should Be Able to Handle This Ourselves”

You already know which charities you support.

You know roughly how much you give.

You know your IRA balance.

You think:

“We should be able to handle this ourselves.”

Then the questions start.

Cash or appreciated stock?

DAF or direct gift?

Annual giving or bunching?

QCD later?

How much Roth conversion?

How much outside liquidity should remain?

Now you’re coordinating charitable, tax, investment, and retirement decisions at the same time.

“I Don’t Want to Ask My Kids for Help”

This matters even when you’re planning to leave money to charity.

You think:

“I don’t want to ask my kids for help.”

You want to be generous without becoming financially dependent later.

You want enough money for your own retirement.

You want your spouse protected.

You want to help organizations you care about.

And maybe you want to leave something to your children too.

Those goals have to share the same pool of wealth.

“What If We Mess This Up and Regret It?”

This fear is especially real with an irrevocable charitable contribution.

You think:

“What if we mess this up and regret it?”

What if you contribute too much?

What if markets fall?

What if one spouse needs care?

What if the conversion tax is larger than expected?

What if the deduction doesn’t work the way you assumed?

That’s why charitable giving should be stress-tested against retirement needs, not merely tax savings.

Don’t Donate Money Just to Create a Bigger Roth Conversion

This is probably the most important warning in the article.

If you already want to give the money, coordinating the timing can be smart planning.

If you don’t want to give the money, a tax deduction doesn’t magically make the gift economically profitable.

Charity should drive the donation.

Math should drive the conversion.

What About Estate Planning?

Charitable giving can also change the amount ultimately left to beneficiaries.

Maybe your goal is:

• Spend enough to enjoy retirement
• Protect your spouse
• Leave a certain amount to your children
• Give a certain amount to charity

Then the Roth conversion should be evaluated inside those goals.

Not outside them.

Could Roth Assets Be Better for My Children?

Roth and traditional inherited retirement assets can receive different income-tax treatment under current federal rules, although beneficiaries can still face distribution requirements.

If charitable giving allows you to reposition part of your own retirement assets through Roth conversions while still meeting your charitable goals, that may affect beneficiary outcomes.

But don’t assume “Roth is always better for heirs.”

Model the actual family situation.

How Can the Roth Conversion Tax Be Addressed?

Option 1: Existing Cash

Outside cash may be used to address conversion taxes.

But if you’re also making a large DAF contribution, pay close attention to how much cash remains afterward.

Option 2: Taxable Investments

Taxable assets may provide liquidity.

If those assets have substantial appreciation, selling them can create capital gains.

If you’re charitably inclined, compare selling appreciated assets with potentially contributing eligible appreciated assets directly to the charitable vehicle.

Have your tax and investment professionals evaluate the specifics.

Option 3: Retirement Assets or Withholding

Another approach may involve retirement assets or withholding.

This can reduce the amount ultimately reaching or remaining inside Roth and may create additional considerations.

Coordinate withholding and estimated tax requirements with a qualified tax professional.

Option 4: Contractual Carrier Bonus Value

When suitable, certain annuity contracts may provide contractual carrier bonus value that can be included in the broader economic comparison.

In some modeled scenarios, contractual carrier bonus value may economically offset some or potentially all of a conversion-tax cost over the strategy period.

This may potentially reduce the need for additional personal out-of-pocket cash from an overall economic standpoint.

The carrier doesn’t assume your IRS tax liability.

A carrier bonus isn’t an IRS tax credit.

Your tax remains your responsibility.

Bonus terms, vesting, surrender provisions, liquidity restrictions, charges, participation rates, caps, spreads, crediting methods, income features, guarantees, and other contractual provisions need to be evaluated carefully.

This Is Where Roth Blueprint Software Comes In

I don’t want to tell someone who gives $50,000 a year to charity:

“Put five years into a DAF and do a giant Roth conversion.”

That’s a strategy before we’ve seen the math.

Using our Roth Blueprint software, we can assess thousands of potential modeled Roth conversion scenarios around your broader retirement picture.

Your tax professional can then evaluate the actual charitable deduction, contribution limitations, itemization, carryforwards, appreciated-property treatment, and other tax details.

What Can We Compare?

We can assess different:

• Roth conversion amounts
• Conversion years
• Multi-year conversions
• Variable annual conversions
• No conversion
• Charitable giving assumptions
• Outside liquidity
• Taxable investment balances
• Traditional IRA balances
• Roth balances
• Projected conversion taxes
• Different approaches to addressing conversion taxes
• Retirement spending
• Social Security timing
• Pension income
• Potential Medicare considerations
• Projected RMDs
• Surviving-spouse outcomes
• Beneficiary outcomes
• Legacy outcomes

Example: Make the Charitable Strategies Compete

Suppose you’re 62 and married.

You have:

• $2 million traditional IRA
• $300,000 Roth IRA
• $1 million taxable portfolio
• $350,000 cash
• $30,000 annual charitable giving goal

You want to explore Roth conversions before other retirement income becomes larger.

We could compare:

Scenario A: No conversion, continue annual charitable gifts.

Scenario B: Annual Roth conversions while continuing annual charitable gifts.

Scenario C: Fund several years of intended charitable giving into a DAF during a selected conversion year, subject to tax-professional review.

Scenario D: Smaller conversions plus annual charitable giving.

Scenario E: Variable conversions coordinated with charitable giving, income, and available liquidity.

Then compare the projected outcomes.

What Are We Trying to Improve?

Not simply this year’s deduction.

We want to see:

• Current taxes
• Future taxes
• Traditional IRA balances
• Roth balances
• Outside liquidity
• Projected RMDs
• Retirement income
• Surviving-spouse assets
• Beneficiary outcomes
• Charitable goals
• Legacy outcomes

The charitable strategy has to work after April 15 too.

The Retirement Math Method™

This is why we use our Retirement Math Method™.

I don’t start with:

“A DAF will offset your Roth conversion.”

I don’t start with:

“You should bunch five years of giving.”

Those are conclusions before analysis.

Instead, we make the strategies compete.

Maybe annual giving wins.

Maybe bunching charitable contributions into a selected conversion year produces a stronger modeled result.

Maybe donating appreciated securities changes the picture.

Maybe preserving liquidity matters more.

Maybe future QCD planning changes the amount you want to convert.

Maybe smaller conversions win.

Maybe doing nothing wins.

I don’t try to sell you on the strategy. I make the strategy prove itself with the math.

Let the math do the talking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Donor-Advised Funds and Roth Conversions

Can a donor-advised fund offset a Roth conversion?

A qualifying DAF contribution may create an allowable charitable deduction that affects taxable income in a Roth conversion year. The actual deduction depends on applicable tax rules and doesn’t necessarily offset conversion income dollar-for-dollar.

Can I contribute several years of charitable giving to a DAF at once?

Potentially. Some taxpayers intentionally bunch several years of planned charitable contributions into one year. The contribution is generally irrevocable, so only assets genuinely intended for charity should be contributed.

Can I donate appreciated stock to a donor-advised fund?

Some DAF sponsors accept appreciated publicly traded securities and other non-cash assets. Sponsor policies, valuation, holding period, deduction rules, and other tax considerations should be reviewed before contributing.

Should I sell appreciated stock and donate the cash?

Not automatically. Selling appreciated securities can create capital gains. If you already intend to donate the asset’s value, compare a direct contribution of eligible appreciated assets with selling the asset and contributing cash.

Can I make a QCD to a donor-advised fund?

Under current federal rules, distributions to donor-advised funds generally aren’t eligible to be treated as qualified charitable distributions. QCDs and DAF contributions are different charitable strategies.

Can I get the money back from a donor-advised fund?

DAF contributions are generally irrevocable charitable contributions. The sponsoring organization maintains legal control of contributed assets, while donors generally retain advisory privileges regarding eligible grants and investments subject to sponsor policies.

Does a charitable deduction reduce taxes dollar-for-dollar?

A deduction generally reduces taxable income when applicable requirements are satisfied. It isn’t generally a dollar-for-dollar reduction of tax liability like a tax credit.

What if I can’t use the entire charitable deduction this year?

Certain charitable contributions that exceed applicable current-year limitations may potentially be carried forward under federal rules. The availability and use of any carryforward should be confirmed with a qualified tax professional.

Should I use a DAF just because I’m doing a Roth conversion?

No. A DAF is primarily a charitable planning vehicle. It should generally be considered when charitable giving already fits your goals, not simply as a way to manufacture a deduction for a Roth conversion.

Can Roth Blueprint compare charitable giving and Roth conversion scenarios?

Our Roth Blueprint process can assess thousands of potential modeled Roth conversion scenarios while incorporating charitable giving assumptions, retirement income, taxable assets, traditional retirement assets, Roth assets, Social Security, pensions, potential Medicare considerations, future RMDs, liquidity, surviving-spouse outcomes, beneficiary outcomes, and no-conversion alternatives. Actual charitable deductions and tax-return treatment should be confirmed with a qualified tax professional.

The Donation Should Make Sense Even Without the Roth Conversion

This is the simplest test.

Ask yourself:

“If I weren’t doing a Roth conversion, would I still want this money to go to charity?”

If the answer is yes, then coordinating the timing may be worth exploring.

If the answer is no, don’t let a tax strategy talk you into an irrevocable charitable gift you don’t actually want to make.

Give because you want to give.

Then figure out how the giving fits into the Roth conversion math.

Have $500,000+ in Tax-Deferred Assets and Significant Charitable Goals? Let’s Run the Math.

If you have $500,000, $750,000, $1 million, $2 million, or more in traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, or other tax-deferred retirement accounts and charitable giving is already part of your retirement or legacy plan, the timing of those gifts may deserve a place in your Roth conversion analysis.

When you meet with me, we can use our Roth Blueprint software and Retirement Math Method™ to assess thousands of potential modeled scenarios.

We can compare:

• No Roth conversion
• Smaller annual conversions
• Larger annual conversions
• Multi-year conversions
• Variable annual conversions
• Different conversion years
• Annual charitable giving assumptions
• Bunched charitable giving assumptions
• Outside liquidity
• Taxable investment balances
• Traditional IRA balances
• Roth balances
• Projected conversion taxes
• Different approaches to addressing conversion taxes
• Retirement spending
• Social Security timing
• Pension income
• Potential healthcare-related income considerations
• Projected RMDs
• Surviving-spouse outcomes
• Beneficiary outcomes
• Legacy outcomes

Then your tax professional can confirm the actual charitable deduction, itemization, adjusted-gross-income limitations, appreciated-property treatment, carryforwards, and other tax details.

Maybe bunching charitable giving into a selected Roth conversion year produces the stronger modeled result.

Maybe annual giving is better.

Maybe donating appreciated assets changes the picture.

Maybe preserving more liquidity matters more than creating a larger deduction.

Maybe smaller Roth conversions win.

Maybe doing nothing wins.

The charitable deduction shouldn’t sell you on the Roth conversion.

The Roth conversion shouldn’t sell you on the charitable gift.

Make both decisions prove themselves.

We don’t sell you a retirement strategy. We run the math and let you decide.

Let the math do the talking.

Schedule Your Roth Conversion Strategy Appointment

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Important Disclosure

This article is for educational purposes only and isn’t intended as individualized tax, legal, accounting, investment, charitable-giving, estate-planning, insurance, Medicare, Social Security, or retirement-planning advice. FPP Financial does not provide tax or legal advice. Donor-advised funds are charitable giving arrangements maintained by sponsoring charitable organizations. Contributions to donor-advised funds are generally irrevocable, and the sponsoring organization retains legal control over contributed assets while donors may retain advisory privileges subject to the sponsor’s policies and applicable law. The availability, amount, and timing of any charitable income-tax deduction depend on current federal and state tax rules, the taxpayer’s individual circumstances, adjusted gross income, itemization, the type of contributed property, holding period, valuation, recipient organization, applicable percentage limitations, other charitable contributions, carryforward rules, and other factors. A charitable contribution doesn’t necessarily reduce income taxes dollar-for-dollar. Contributions of appreciated securities and other non-cash property can involve valuation, substantiation, holding-period, deduction-limitation, capital-gain, appraisal, and other requirements. Not all donor-advised fund sponsors accept all asset types. Qualified charitable distributions and donor-advised fund contributions are governed by different rules, and donor-advised funds generally aren’t eligible QCD recipients under current federal law. Roth conversions generally create taxable income to the extent converted amounts would otherwise be taxable. Qualified Roth IRA distributions are generally tax-free under current federal rules when applicable requirements are satisfied. Taxable Roth conversion income, charitable deductions, capital gains, investment income, retirement distributions, pensions, and other income can affect federal and state income taxes, marginal tax rates, the federal calculation determining how much of Social Security benefits is included in taxable income, ACA Marketplace premium tax credits when applicable, Medicare premiums, estimated tax requirements, Net Investment Income Tax calculations in applicable circumstances, liquidity, and other parts of a financial plan. Required minimum distribution rules vary based on birth year, account type, beneficiary status, and current law, and required distribution amounts aren’t eligible for Roth conversion. Roth conversions can potentially reduce future traditional retirement-account balances and future RMDs relative to an otherwise identical no-conversion scenario, but no specific tax, charitable, investment, Medicare, Social Security, RMD, retirement-income, liquidity, surviving-spouse, beneficiary, or legacy outcome is guaranteed. Roth Blueprint calculations and other projections are based on assumptions and information entered into the analysis and aren’t guarantees of future tax results, charitable deductions, account values, investment performance, retirement income, Medicare premiums, Social Security outcomes, RMD reductions, surviving-spouse outcomes, beneficiary outcomes, legacy results, liquidity, or product performance. Insurance and annuity products may contain fees, charges, surrender periods, liquidity restrictions, eligibility requirements, bonus provisions, participation rates, caps, spreads, crediting methods, income features, guarantees, and other contractual terms. Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer. A carrier bonus isn’t an IRS tax credit and doesn’t transfer the client’s tax liability to an insurance company. Statements that contractual carrier bonus value may economically offset some or potentially all of a modeled conversion-tax cost aren’t statements that the tax disappears or that the carrier directly pays the client’s tax liability. Before completing a Roth conversion, establishing or funding a donor-advised fund, making charitable contributions, donating appreciated or non-cash property, relying on charitable deductions or carryforwards, making QCDs, selling investments, making estimated tax payments, purchasing an insurance or annuity product, or making other retirement or charitable-planning decisions, consider working with qualified tax, legal, accounting, financial, investment, charitable-giving, estate-planning, insurance, Medicare, Social Security, and other appropriate professionals who can evaluate your individual circumstances and current rules.