Peter Negri ’68 recalls how assured his late father, Frank, was by

BC’s Jesuit, Catholic roots. “He never graduated from high school,” says Negri, himself a parent of three BC graduates. “But he knew the importance of education and the values that it instills, especially at Boston College.” Upon his father’s death, Negri discovered that his dad had left a bequest to establish an undergraduate scholar-ship so those in need could attend the University. “I had no idea he created a legacy commitment,” says Negri. “But it made perfect sense. My father loved BC and what it represents—and with his legacy gift he can forever share that with others.” Many like Frank Negri have been similarly inspired to give knowing that the Ignatian spirit is alive and well at BC. Undergraduates rou-tinely clamor for seats in courses like Perspectives, which combines theology and philosophy studies, and

PULSE, which pairs social justice classwork with service learning placements. The growth of the Church in the 21st Century Center and the Lonergan Institute, which focuses on Jesuit scholarship, also heralds BC’s steadfast commitment to educate “men and women for others.” The University’s legacy giving donors have embraced this spirit since Joseph Coolidge Shaw, S.J., helped found BC with his bequest of books and the proceeds of his life insurance policy. Today’s Shaw Society members advance the BC mission through legacy gifts of all sizes.

AN INSPIRED CHOICE

Michelle ’79 and Ken Mostello ’79, MS’93, P’11, are among those who see value in legacy commitments that support the institution’s Jesuit, Catholic identity.

The couple felt compelled to bolster the School of Theology and Ministry, which was formed in 2008. “We wished to join the growing giving tradition at the new school,” says Ken Mostello. “We wanted to help establish a beneficial precedent.”

The Mostellos created a financial aid fund that will help attract talented graduate students preparing for ordi-nation or for lay ecclesiastical ministries. Legacy donors can also choose to underwrite student programming, in-cluding the academic journal Lumen et Vita, international immersion trips, and weekly prayer services. Meanwhile, across the University, legacy gifts have more broadly supported the Department of Theology and have funded volunteer service initiatives and spiri-tual retreats. “I think Fr. Monan ex-pressed it well when he once said that by making a legacy gift, you accept that there is something more enduring than yourself,” says Michelle Mostello. “We all wish to stand for something mean-ingful. We can when we make a legacy gift.” n

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In Good FaithCreating Legacy Gifts That Touch the BC Mission

The University’s Jesuit, Catholic heritage remains both visible and tangible at the Heights.

“My father loved BC and what it represents—and with his legacy gift he can forever share that with others.”—Peter Negri ’68, P’96, ’00, ’03

BookmarksT H E L E G A C Y G I V I N G N E W S L E T T E R O F B O S T O N C O L L E G E

WINTER 2013

W W W . B C . E D U / L E G A C Y G I V I N G

3 sign your  documents.  

4 communicate with your family and beneficiaries.

You’ve worked hard to build your family’s security. When consider-ing the long-term future of your nest egg, your team of advisors (see Q&A on Page 4) should include a lawyer with specific expertise in estate planning. Only someone with this skill set will be able to accurately spot the relevant issues, understand your objectives, and advise you on how best to meet them in light of the complex laws that surround this field.

An estate plan is more than just a will. Everyone should have a health care proxy and a durable power of attorney. These two documents allow you to designate someone to make your health care and financial decisions, respectively, in the event you are unable to do so yourself. Look for a legal advisor who is attuned to these and other key details.

A beautifully drafted estate plan prepared by your lawyer does no good if you never sign it. Far too often people delay (for months or even years!) signing the very documents they paid to have created. Unsigned documents are not worth the paper on which they are written.

Disputes can arise when heirs are surprised by the contents of an estate plan. The good news is that it is easy to minimize the likeli-hood of conflict. How? Have a conversation with your heirs and beneficiaries to let them know the basic provisions of your plan, as well as whom you have selected to perform the various jobs involved (e.g., executor, power of attorney, health care proxy) and why. That way they will not be confronted with a reality that differs from their perception.

5 make regular  updates to your plan.  

Because your finances, the law, and your own circumstances are dynamic, the best practice is to regularly amend your plan. For your own peace of mind, take time to review and, if necessary, revise your documents every three to five years. In addition, you’ll want to continually update your durable power of attorney since some banks won’t accept documents that are more than a year old.

1 2seek an experienced estate lawyer.

invest in a  comprehensive approach.

Focus on these essentials to create a sound estate plan.

Planning for Peace of Mind

5TOP

B O O K M A R K S   |   W I N T E R   2 0 1 32

Feb. 16–June 2 PORTUGAL, JESUITS, AND JAPAN: SPIRITUAL BELIEFS AND EARTHLY GOODS McMullen Museum of Art, Middle Campuswww.bc.edu/mcmullenmuseum

Join us at the Heights this winter

for an array of exciting events.

Please mark your calendars and

go online for further information.

Jan. 31Thursday | 7 p.m.

CANDLEMAS LECTURE “Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation” with noted author and Princeton professor Elaine PagelsDevlin 101, Middle Campuswww.bc.edu/lowell

March 12Tuesday | 6 p.m.

FINANCIALLY FIT SERIES: MAKING RETIREMENT WORKCadigan Alumni Center, Brighton Campuswww.bc.edu/shawevents

You’re Invited

W W W . B C . E D U / L E G A C Y G I V I N G 3 5

hile first pio-neered in 1931, donor-advised

funds have become an increasingly popular chari-table giving vehicle in the last decade—especially among alumni, parents, and friends of Boston College. More than 850 University benefactors have taken advantage of the flexibil-ity and tax benefits of these funds, which enable organi-zations, families, or indi-viduals to recommend annual donations to the causes that matter most to them. So far, donors have contributed more than $30 million to

the Light the World campaign through this attractive giving tool—with gifts ranging from $500 to $5 million.

FOR TODAY… AND TOMORROW Contributing to organiza-tions like Boston College through your donor-advised fund is an easy and effective way to make your annual gifts. Your BC commitment will address the University’s most urgent needs, such as financial aid, undergraduate research, and service-learning programming. You may also leave the remainder of your donor-

advised fund to Boston College as a legacy gift, thus ensuring that tomorrow’s students continue to benefit from your philanthropy. You simply need to name BC as a full or partial beneficiary of your fund to ensure your long-lasting impact. Designation changes can be made through your fund’s administrator; most funds are managed by the charitable divisions of financial services firms or local community foundations. While the mini-mum contribution to create a fund varies, the charitable income tax deduction is iden-tical across providers.

“A donor-advised fund is a perfect fit for my fam-ily,” says University Trustee David P. O’Connor ’86, P’16. “Through our annual gifts, we’re able to assist today’s Eagles, but we can also help secure the BC experience for future generations. It is a gift that gives you the power to make a difference.” n

To learn more, contact Gift Planning Director Sue Warren Ramsey ’91 at 877-304-SHAW or legacygiving@bc.edu.

W

177,357 Donor-advised funds in the U.S.

$30.4M Fund contribu-tions to date toward the Light the World campaign

851 Alumni,parents, and friends who currently support Boston College with donor-advised fund gifts

Donor-AdvisedFundsKnow

DidYou?$7.7B Annual grants provided to charity

March 10Sunday | 9:30 a.m.

LAETARE SUNDAY MASS AND BRUNCHConte Forum, Lower Campuswww.bc.edu/laetare

View more campus happenings at www.bc.edu/events.

March 23Saturday | 2 p.m.

SESQUICENTENNIAL STUDENT CONCERT Boston Symphony Hallwww.bc.edu/150$37.4B Total assets

under management

Donor-advised fund gifts directly enhance the BC student experience inside and outside the classroom.

Note: Domestic statistics from the National Philanthropic Trust’s 2012 Donor-Advised Fund Report

SAVE DATE: MAY 9the

SHAW SOCIETY MUSEUM TOUR

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rtWell AdvisedDonor-Advised Funds Reach New Heights at Boston College

Q When does it make sense to hire a

financial professional?

A It’s time to seek advice when you’re not sure how

to prioritize or achieve your financial goals, or you’re clear about your goals but are unsure of how to invest your savings. You may also wish to hire a financial professional as you approach retirement or when a life event, such as having a child or changing jobs, has altered your financial outlook.

Q How do I find the best fit for my needs?

A If you require goal-setting assistance, then you’ll

want a financial planner who will get to know you and your objectives—and develop a per-sonalized roadmap to help you achieve them. If you have clear goals, but do not understand investments or do not have time to manage them, then you’ll require a financial advisor. You may need one or both profes-sionals as part of your financial team. (You’ll also want a lawyer; see Top 5 on Page 2.)

Q What are some realistic expectations?

A There is no magic wand, but a good professional

can help you set achievable goals and chart your investment

course. And in a volatile market, a financial professional can minimize your downside risk. Make sure you understand the precise services these professionals provide, how they approach their work, and how they are compensated. “Fee-only” financial planners charge a flat fee or hourly rate for their services. “Fee-only” advisors charge a percentage of assets and do not work on commission or benefit from referrals. However, “commission-based” advisors may bill a percentage of assets, but they can also collect money from commissions and referrals. It is important to understand compensation since it can affect the independence of the advice you receive. n

▶ Do you have an estate planning question? Please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 877-304-SHAW or legacygiving@bc.edu for assistance.

F INANCIAL SERVICES DEMYSTIFIEDFRANK SENNOTT ’77 , MBA’81 , P ’16

QA&

Frank Sennott is a financial planner at the law firm of Ropes & Gray.

64 B O O K M A R K S   |   W I N T E R   2 0 1 3

Boston College set Eva Marie Carey ’78, P’14, on a path that would

take her to the Alaskan wilderness but would ulti-mately bring her back to the Heights. “BC instilled in me a desire to help those in need that has never left me,” she says. As a physician special-izing in emergency medi-cine, Carey has served her Anchorage community for 30 years. Now, through a recent bequest to the University, she and her husband, Ron Dailey, have

found a way to assist BC students in perpetuity.

ON HER ENDURING CONNECTION…

If you grow up in a Boston College family, as I did in Westport, Conn., you always hear the glowing stories. My father and brother graduated from BC and my sister from New-ton College. Several other relatives are alumni as well. So attending BC was an easy choice, and now our daughter, Rebecca, is a sophomore carrying that tradition forward.

ON THE BC CAMPUS…

The Heights is more beauti-ful now than ever, especially with the building of Stokes Hall and the new green space at O’Neill Library. You can see how much today’s students appreciate being here. Every time I return is a homecoming—connect-ing me to both my own undergraduate days and to my family’s BC legacy.

ON CREATING A BEQUEST…

Reviewing our estate plan provided a great oppor-

tunity to think through what Boston College means to us—and how we can help future students benefit from one of the most distinctive liberal arts educations in the country. We decided to establish the Carey Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will provide financial aid to deserving students—and will hopefully bring more Alaskans to BC. For us, it’s the perfect way to honor our family history and live the University’s mission of service to others. n

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Eva Marie Carey ’78, P’14

Learn more at www.bc.edu/legacygiving. Or contact us at 877-304-SHAW or legacygiving@bc.edu.

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Mark 150 years of BC history with a legacy gift that secures the University’s bright future.

Build Your Own Legacy

Cover photo: Campus statue of St. Ignatius made possible through the generosity of Sally Engelhard Pingree and the Engelhard Foundation

Eva Marie Carey with her husband, Ron Dailey, and their daughter, Rebecca

Feb. 16–June 2 PORTUGAL, JESUITS, AND JAPAN: SPIRITUAL BELIEFS AND EARTHLY GOODS McMullen Museum of Art, Middle Campuswww.bc.edu/mcmullenmuseum

Join us at the Heights this winter

for an array of exciting events.

Please mark your calendars and

go online for further information.

Jan. 31Thursday | 7 p.m.

CANDLEMAS LECTURE “Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation” with noted author and Princeton professor Elaine PagelsDevlin 101, Middle Campuswww.bc.edu/lowell

March 12Tuesday | 6 p.m.

FINANCIALLY FIT SERIES: MAKING RETIREMENT WORKCadigan Alumni Center, Brighton Campuswww.bc.edu/shawevents

You’re Invited

W W W . B C . E D U / L E G A C Y G I V I N G 3 5

hile first pio-neered in 1931, donor-advised

funds have become an increasingly popular chari-table giving vehicle in the last decade—especially among alumni, parents, and friends of Boston College. More than 850 University benefactors have taken advantage of the flexibil-ity and tax benefits of these funds, which enable organi-zations, families, or indi-viduals to recommend annual donations to the causes that matter most to them. So far, donors have contributed more than $30 million to

the Light the World campaign through this attractive giving tool—with gifts ranging from $500 to $5 million.

FOR TODAY… AND TOMORROW Contributing to organiza-tions like Boston College through your donor-advised fund is an easy and effective way to make your annual gifts. Your BC commitment will address the University’s most urgent needs, such as financial aid, undergraduate research, and service-learning programming. You may also leave the remainder of your donor-

advised fund to Boston College as a legacy gift, thus ensuring that tomorrow’s students continue to benefit from your philanthropy. You simply need to name BC as a full or partial beneficiary of your fund to ensure your long-lasting impact. Designation changes can be made through your fund’s administrator; most funds are managed by the charitable divisions of financial services firms or local community foundations. While the mini-mum contribution to create a fund varies, the charitable income tax deduction is iden-tical across providers.

“A donor-advised fund is a perfect fit for my fam-ily,” says University Trustee David P. O’Connor ’86, P’16. “Through our annual gifts, we’re able to assist today’s Eagles, but we can also help secure the BC experience for future generations. It is a gift that gives you the power to make a difference.” n

To learn more, contact Gift Planning Director Sue Warren Ramsey ’91 at 877-304-SHAW or legacygiving@bc.edu.

W

177,357 Donor-advised funds in the U.S.

$30.4M Fund contribu-tions to date toward the Light the World campaign

851 Alumni,parents, and friends who currently support Boston College with donor-advised fund gifts

Donor-AdvisedFundsKnow

DidYou?$7.7B Annual grants provided to charity

March 10Sunday | 9:30 a.m.

LAETARE SUNDAY MASS AND BRUNCHConte Forum, Lower Campuswww.bc.edu/laetare

View more campus happenings at www.bc.edu/events.

March 23Saturday | 2 p.m.

SESQUICENTENNIAL STUDENT CONCERT Boston Symphony Hallwww.bc.edu/150$37.4B Total assets

under management

Donor-advised fund gifts directly enhance the BC student experience inside and outside the classroom.

Note: Domestic statistics from the National Philanthropic Trust’s 2012 Donor-Advised Fund Report

SAVE DATE: MAY 9the

SHAW SOCIETY MUSEUM TOUR

gar

y w

ayn

e g

ilbe

rtWell AdvisedDonor-Advised Funds Reach New Heights at Boston College

Q When does it make sense to hire a

financial professional?

A It’s time to seek advice when you’re not sure how

to prioritize or achieve your financial goals, or you’re clear about your goals but are unsure of how to invest your savings. You may also wish to hire a financial professional as you approach retirement or when a life event, such as having a child or changing jobs, has altered your financial outlook.

Q How do I find the best fit for my needs?

A If you require goal-setting assistance, then you’ll

want a financial planner who will get to know you and your objectives—and develop a per-sonalized roadmap to help you achieve them. If you have clear goals, but do not understand investments or do not have time to manage them, then you’ll require a financial advisor. You may need one or both profes-sionals as part of your financial team. (You’ll also want a lawyer; see Top 5 on Page 2.)

Q What are some realistic expectations?

A There is no magic wand, but a good professional

can help you set achievable goals and chart your investment

course. And in a volatile market, a financial professional can minimize your downside risk. Make sure you understand the precise services these professionals provide, how they approach their work, and how they are compensated. “Fee-only” financial planners charge a flat fee or hourly rate for their services. “Fee-only” advisors charge a percentage of assets and do not work on commission or benefit from referrals. However, “commission-based” advisors may bill a percentage of assets, but they can also collect money from commissions and referrals. It is important to understand compensation since it can affect the independence of the advice you receive. n

▶ Do you have an estate planning question? Please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 877-304-SHAW or legacygiving@bc.edu for assistance.

F INANCIAL SERVICES DEMYSTIFIEDFRANK SENNOTT ’77 , MBA’81 , P ’16

QA&

Frank Sennott is a financial planner at the law firm of Ropes & Gray.

64 B O O K M A R K S   |   W I N T E R   2 0 1 3

Boston College set Eva Marie Carey ’78, P’14, on a path that would

take her to the Alaskan wilderness but would ulti-mately bring her back to the Heights. “BC instilled in me a desire to help those in need that has never left me,” she says. As a physician special-izing in emergency medi-cine, Carey has served her Anchorage community for 30 years. Now, through a recent bequest to the University, she and her husband, Ron Dailey, have

found a way to assist BC students in perpetuity.

ON HER ENDURING CONNECTION…

If you grow up in a Boston College family, as I did in Westport, Conn., you always hear the glowing stories. My father and brother graduated from BC and my sister from New-ton College. Several other relatives are alumni as well. So attending BC was an easy choice, and now our daughter, Rebecca, is a sophomore carrying that tradition forward.

ON THE BC CAMPUS…

The Heights is more beauti-ful now than ever, especially with the building of Stokes Hall and the new green space at O’Neill Library. You can see how much today’s students appreciate being here. Every time I return is a homecoming—connect-ing me to both my own undergraduate days and to my family’s BC legacy.

ON CREATING A BEQUEST…

Reviewing our estate plan provided a great oppor-

tunity to think through what Boston College means to us—and how we can help future students benefit from one of the most distinctive liberal arts educations in the country. We decided to establish the Carey Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will provide financial aid to deserving students—and will hopefully bring more Alaskans to BC. For us, it’s the perfect way to honor our family history and live the University’s mission of service to others. n

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Eva Marie Carey ’78, P’14

Learn more at www.bc.edu/legacygiving. Or contact us at 877-304-SHAW or legacygiving@bc.edu.

gre

tch

en e

rtl

Mark 150 years of BC history with a legacy gift that secures the University’s bright future.

Build Your Own Legacy

Cover photo: Campus statue of St. Ignatius made possible through the generosity of Sally Engelhard Pingree and the Engelhard Foundation

Eva Marie Carey with her husband, Ron Dailey, and their daughter, Rebecca