DSUMF Newsletter September 17, 2025
September is an odd month. It used to be the start of school, but now school starts in August. We used to think, “Fall” right after Labor Day. And Fall does start on the calendar later this month. It’s just not feeling much like Fall weather as I write this. And at Goodyear’s elevation, no leaves are turning color.
September might be considered the “get ready” month. It’s the time to get things done so you can enjoy the craziness that inevitably comes as the calendar advances. Here are three things you might “get ready” to help you enjoy the rest of 2025:
- Last month, you already know, was Make-A-Will month. Maybe you already have a will. If you do, how long has it been since you’ve looked at it? Things change. Lives change. Organizations change. If you haven’t looked at your will in more than five years, please get it out and read it – for your own peace of mind.
- If you have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) with a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), Fall is definitely the time to decide how you want that RMD. If this isn’t the first year of having to take the RMD, you already know that you will pay income tax on your RMD. However, did you know that you can have it sent directly to your church, any 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or your endowment at Desert Southwest United Methodist Foundation? Those distributions count as your RMD – but those special charitable distributions don’t charge you for income tax. Those special charitable distributions are called Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD). Ask your IRA custodian if this is new information for you.
- If you usually itemize your income taxes when you file them, this is an excellent time to sit down with your tax advisor and assess your individual situation. Some changes in the law end in 2025. Whether that is something that might make a difference for you, only your advisor can tell you. We do know that the top tax bracket is going up in 2026 and there are some changes for charitable gifts in the top brackets.
By October, it should be properly Fall as we start the last quarter of the calendar year. Set yourself up for an enjoyable year-end by taking care of details in September. And, as always, if we can help you at Desert Southwest United Methodist Foundation, just give me a call.
Blessings,
Anne Green
Executive Director
602-798-8202
agreen@dsumf.org