How generosity can be part of your financial plan

It’s the season for gifts, sharing meals and spreading cheer. But what if your festive generosity could do more? What if it could ripple through generations, perhaps shaping futures and maybe reduce your tax bill?

Giving isn’t just an act of kindness; it can also be a smart financial move. From helping loved ones today to creating a legacy for future generations, strategic gifting can align with your broader financial goals.

After all, Australians are generous. We consistently rank among the most charitable in the world with a study showing that, in the past year, 56 per cent of Australians have donated money and 31 per cent have donated their time.i

Australia, as a wealthy but ageing nation, is well-placed to grow charitable bequests, but the reality is less encouraging. The number of people leaving bequests to charities is low and the size of the bequests also “falls far short of international peers”, according to The Bequest Report by JBWere.ii

Why planned giving matters

Often, giving is reactive rather than planned. We might respond to a donation drive, an emotional TV ad, a friend’s fundraiser or gift property or shares to a family member.

But giving can also be intentional. Some people choose to set aside a portion of their annual income, commit to monthly donations or include charities in their wills. Others join workplace giving programs or support causes that reflect their values. In this way, generosity becomes less about impulse and more of a conscious decision.

There may be advantages in taking a more strategic approach. It can amplify your impact, build your reputation, open doors to new networks and potentially deliver tax benefits. Donations to organisations with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status can help to manage your tax position by reducing taxable income. If you give more than $2 to an organisation with DGR status, you can claim a 100 per cent tax deduction for your donation.iii

Planned giving can help to create a lasting impact, building a legacy for family and community. It integrates generosity into financial planning, ensuring investments reflect personal or family values. In this way, it becomes a tool for involving younger generations in financial governance, teaching responsibility and shared purpose.

Strategic gifting can include early inheritance, education funding or contributions to a family trust. These approaches can reduce future taxes on your estate.

Structured giving options for lasting impact

For those looking to make a lasting impact on their communities, structured giving vehicles offer flexibility and control.

It can create long-term financial stability to favourite causes, providing predictable funding for charities. It can potentially reduce complexity in estate planning and ensure your wishes are carried out; and donating assets may offset capital gains tax liabilities.

Unlike mass market or other forms of giving, such as direct donations to charities, crowd funding and volunteering, structured giving involves using a vehicle designed to enable giving such as:

  • Private Ancillary Funds – often used by families and individuals able to make a minimum initial contribution of $500,000 with a plan to grow the fund beyond $1 million.
  • Public Ancillary Funds – suitable for those with a lower entry point of $20,000
  • Community foundations or giving circles – enable donors to pool resources for local impact. Entry levels can be as low as $2,000.
  • Donor Advised Funds or sub funds – a simpler, more flexible structure allowing donors to distribute funds over time. They can be established relatively quickly with some recommending an initial donation of a minimum $20,000.

Structured giving can also occur without using a dedicated vehicle through, for example, corporate cash donations or larger scale and planned contributions from individuals and families.

Giving isn’t just about generosity, it’s about creating a lasting impact.

We can help to create a giving strategy that supports your family and backs the causes you care about.

i World Giving Index | CAF

ii Bequest Report | JBWere

iii Inquiry Report – Future Foundations for giving | Productivity Commission

Praise Baroña

Client Services Officer

Praise Barona is a Customer Service Officer at Investlink Group and a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy graduate. She brings a well-rounded background in financial planning support and accounting, with experience as a Financial Planning Assistant and as an intern in a CPA firm.

Through these roles, she has developed strong attention to detail, organisation, and a thoughtful approach to supporting both clients and advisers.

Praise is passionate about delivering a positive and reliable client experience, and is committed to continuing her growth in the financial planning industry.

Lindsay Austria

Marketing Officer

Lindsay Austria is a Marketing Officer at Investlink Group and is currently completing a Bachelor of Commerce (International Business and Marketing) at the University of Sydney.

She brings experience in digital marketing, content creation, and community engagement.

With a passion for storytelling and cross-cultural connection, Lindsay focuses on creating meaningful content that resonates with diverse audiences and builds genuine engagement.

Mary Yousif

Administrative Officer

Mary is a Financial Planning Administrative Officer at Investlink Group, holding a Bachelor of Business with a major in Finance and Management.

She brings a strong client-focused approach, supported by her experience as a Senior Receptionist and Assistant Manager, where she developed skills in communication, problem-solving, and team coordination. Mary is committed to building her expertise in the financial planning sector and contributing to a seamless and supportive client experience.

Sara Jahanbin

Advice Associate and Professional Year Candidate

Sara is an Advice Associate at Investlink Group, with over seven years of experience in the tax and financial planning industry. With a strong background in tax strategy, she brings valuable insight into structuring financial advice that aligns with each client’s broader financial goals.
 
Sara is currently completing her Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning with Kaplan Professional and is working towards becoming a licensed financial adviser. She is dedicated to providing holistic, client-centered support and manages the advice process end to end, ensuring clients receive clear, strategic, and tailored outcomes.

Priyanka Kumar

Financial Adviser

Priyanka is a financial adviser with experience across various areas of advice including superannuation and retirement planning, wealth creation and personal insurance. Her education includes a Bachelor of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning from Kaplan.

Priyanka enjoys strategising and working towards creating valuable solutions for our clients. She loves meeting our clients, both existing and new, and getting to know them on a personal level and hearing the unique stories they have to share.

Ashish Thadani

Director & Financial Adviser

Financial Adviser / Director of Investlink Group & Excalibur Wealth Group

Ashish has over 20 years of experience as a financial adviser and is passionate about educating his clients on their finances and the financial strategies that he recommends to them.

With a “client comes first” philosophy for the business, Ashish operates with patience, transparency and with the best interests of his clients always in mind.

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