Gift & Estate Planning

Rob & Renita Jones Anderson

When Rob Anderson met Renita Jones in 2004, it didn't take long for him to recognize that his future wife was committed to supporting the people, causes and organizations she felt were important in life.

Lucky for Rob, that included him.

And, as he soon learned, it also included the college where Renita earned her Ph.D. and where she garnered the knowledge necessary for a lifetime of advancement.

"From the time we met, I have admired how Renita gives her time and her financial resources to important causes and FACS clearly is an important part of her life," said Rob, a former Georgia Tech computer sciences student.

When the couple married in 2006, they continued Renita's tradition of supporting the college through annual gifts. As newlyweds, they are creating a joint estate plan and are leaving FACS an outright gift in their will, designating a percentage of their total estate to the college rather than a specific amount. Because the gift will likely grow in future decades, this is more meaningful for FACS, yet keeps the gift relative in size to the Andersons' assets.

"Major life changes are good times to establish and review your estate plans," said Renita (Ph.D. in textile sciences, '94). "In 2006, Rob and I married and bought a house together, so those events prompted us to more clearly define our estate planning. Now that our assets are a little more involved, and we have two sets of parents to consider, we wanted to ensure that the people we love won't be burdened with making financial decisions if something happens to us."

Though the couple isn't yet 40 years old, according to Rob, "It is never too early to make an estate plan."

"From the time you begin to build assets, such as a retirement plan and a company-sponsored life insurance policy at your first job, you need to determine where those assets will go if you pass away," Rob said. "Initially, that 'plan' may be as simple as naming primary and contingent beneficiaries through your employment benefits."

And, though Rob isn't a FACS graduate, he is excited about the opportunities for the future that can be created by his and Renita's planned gift to the college.

"I really hadn't thought about philanthropy before Renita and I met. My parents were listed as beneficiaries on my life insurance and retirement plans, and I was relying on them to distribute any funds that remained after paying my end-of-life expenses," Rob said. "However, I am excited to think about how students in need could benefit from our gifts. And, based on Renita's involvement with FACS over the years, I feel confident that assets we entrust with FACS will be well-managed."

** Special Note: Since this article was written, Rob and Renita have welcomed their first child, Chloe, to their family. There is no doubt that she will be raised with the spirit of philanthropy that the Andersons embrace as part of their family values.

The information in this Web site is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income tax include federal taxes only. Individual state taxes and/or state law may impact your results.