• HISTORY
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• ENDOWMENT FUND

Gift Planning Services

Expert Gift and Estate Planning Assistance - Available at No Cost to Congregations and Individuals

• What happens if you die without a will?
• What’s the difference between a will and a living trust?
• How can you avoid the cost and delays of Probate?
• Which is best: a personal representative or a corporate trustee?
• Do you need a living trust?
• Who should have Medical Power of Attorney?
• What about Durable Power of Attorney?
• Why is it important to choose a guardian for your children?
• How do you write a Christian Preamble for a will or trust?
• What do you want your legacy to communicate?
• Which gifting options are right for your assets and your family?
• What’s the best way to create a lasting legacy for ministry?

It’s Not Just About Money

Christians have a special responsibility to act as stewards of God’s gifts—during their lifetime and beyond their lifetime as well. One of the best ways to do that is with an estate plan that reflects your deepest values and beliefs.

Creating a Christian estate plan isn’t just about providing for loved ones after you’re gone, as important as that is. It’s also about affirming your faith, expressing your love and gratitude for God’s blessings, and creating a legacy that will live on for generations to come.

With the right plan in place, you can:

• Protect your family,
• Preserve your assets,
• Reduce estate taxes, and
• Support ministries that mean the most to you.

The process of planning a will can seem overwhelming. Which could explain why more than half of all adults in the U.S. don’t have a will or trust—and  why those who do fail to update it periodically, to reflect life changes.

CEF Is Ready to Assist You.

To help you plan a will or trust that fulfills your Christian goals and objectives, CEF offers free congregational seminars and one-on-one consulting sessions. These services are provided by Gift Planning Counselor Bill Burmeister, a lifetime LCMS member and former financial services professional.

Every year, Bill presents helpful, practical, information-packed seminars at LCMS churches across Michigan.

He also meets with individuals and families to answer questions, offer suggestions, explain giving options, and set them on the path to creating a will or living trust that meets both their financial and spiritual goals.

To schedule a Gift Planning Seminar for your church or to arrange for a free one-on-one estate planning consultation, call Bill Burmeister at 734-213-4251 or 800-242-3944. Or e-mail him at bill.burmeister@mi-cef.org.

Make Things Easier for Your Loved Ones

If something happened to you today, would your Personal Representative know who to contact? Click here to print out a free Estate Plan Organizer, outlining the emergency contacts and key documents your executor will need.

GOT QUESTIONS? GET ANSWERS.

Meet Bill Burmeister, CEF’s specialist in gift and estate planning. A former financial services professional with Smith Barney, Bill has earned the designation of Christian Development Executive (CDE) from the LCMS Foundation, certifying him as an expert in will and estate planning, stewardship, ministry gifts, endowment funds, and Christian legacy planning. To ask Bill a question about gift and estate planning, click here.