Salmon Steward

salmon Steward magazine 7 A Gift in Parting PER A RECENT POLL by the Angus Reid Institute, only about 50 per cent of people in B.C. have a valid will or estate plan. Some think they're too young to worry about having a will, while others believe they don't have enough assets to make it worthwhile. But dying without one means the B.C. Wills, Estates and Succession Act will determine how your estate is divided, and loved ones can be left with nothing. In 2018, I hosted a series of Estate Planning Roundtables in communities across the province, led by estate and financial planning experts such as IG Private Wealth Management (pictured here), who generously volunteered their time. Each event welcomed 20 to 30 people to learn about topics including: • Wills and why you need one; • How to ensure your loved ones are looked after; • Understanding the role of an executor, and much more. PSF hits the road in 2019, hosting estate planning events across B.C. Our short presentations also highlighted the work of the Pacific Salmon Foundation and the local volunteer streamkeepers that PSF supports in the communities we visited. Results have been encouraging; more than half the attendees stated they had not known about PSF before the event, and after the presentation, the majority said they would consider making a charitable gift in their will (or that they had already done so). I will be organizing more events in 2019. If you are interested in learning more or hosting one in your area, please contact me personally at 604.664.7664 ext. 128 or mbuttner@psf.ca. Of course, I also welcome opportunities to discuss how a gift in your will can create a lasting legacy for wild Pacific salmon. "We talk to our clients on a regular basis about estate planning and they are surprised to learn how impactful planned giving can be. Not only is it a wonderful legacy, it provides tremendous benefits for the charity of choice, along with personal tax savings." – Mandy Baker (left) of Behan Baker & Associates, IG Private Wealth Management By Margaret Buttner Manager, Planned Giving and Annual Giving, PSF SINCE 1987 DID YOU KNOW? raised by local communities for Community Salmon Program projects for each $1 granted by Pacific Salmon Foundation TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE of projects funded by PSF, including leveraging by local communities $205.4 MILLION unique Pacific salmon conservation, restoration and enhancement projects supported by PSF 35,000 $ 7 volunteers engaged through projects funded by Pacific Salmon Foundation TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE of all project grants made by Pacific Salmon Foundation TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE $ 60.3 MILLION 3,268 DID YOU KNOW? PHOTOS (BOTTOM LEFT & BOTTOM RIGHT) FERNANDO LESSA; (TOP RIGHT) NINA EVANS-LOCKE

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