The RIFT Project: Eliminate Delays Collecting Death Benefits on IRAs and Other Beneficiary Accounts

RIFT Project: Status Update 

Has your nonprofit experienced delays while attempting to collect IRA death proceeds when your donor died? Has it taken months or years to get paid? Or, has your organization been required to set up an entirely separate, second account – aka an Inherited IRA – just to get your funds? Or had to give out personal social security numbers in the process? What was once a simple transaction to claim a death benefit has now turned into an onerous and laborious procedure – so much so, that some charities are completely giving up on trying to get their rightful share. Do you want to know how to avoid all this? Do you want an easier and faster way to get paid? The good news is that we are making great progress toward simplifying the process. Join us to learn which IRA custodians are problematic and which aren’t – you’ll now be able to get your money fast.

• Acquire the skills and knowledge you need today to collect IRA proceeds quickly and with less paperwork
• Learn what steps the industry has taken nationwide to help alleviate the delays and paperwork caused by IRA custodians
• Learn what the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and the IRS have done to help and what you can do today to make a difference

About our Speaker

Johni Hays, JD, FCEP 

Senior Vice President Thompson & Associates  

With more than 25 years of experience as a practicing attorney in charitable and estate planning, Johni Hays is a recognized expert on the subject of charitable gift planning. Johni served as the president of the Charitable Estate Planning Institute, and she is the author of the book Essentials of Annuities and co-author of the book The Tools and Techniques of Charitable Planning. Johni serves on the Smithsonian’s Gift Planning Council in Washington, DC.  She served on the Editorial Advisory Board for the books Tax Facts on Investments and Tax Facts on Insurance and Employee Benefits. She also served on the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners board and as a founding charitable planning author of Steve Leimberg’s electronic newsletter service, LISI, found at www.leimbergservices.com. 

Johni has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and has published charitable planning articles in Estate Planning Magazine, Planned Giving Today, Fundraising Success, Life Insurance Selling, and the National Underwriter magazines.  Johni is in demand as a national lecturer on estate and charitable planning, probate, living wills, annuities, life insurance, retirement planning, IRAs, and income, estate, and gift taxation. Johni has been engaged in the practice of law with an emphasis in charitable and estate planning since 1993.    Prior to joining Thompson & Associates, Johni served as the Senior Gift Planning Consultant for The Stelter Company. Prior to that, as the Executive Director of the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation Planned Giving Institute. In addition, Johni practiced estate planning with Myers Krause and Stevens, a Chartered law firm in Naples, Florida, where she specialized in estate planning.  Johni graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree from Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1993. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Drake University and graduated magna cum laude in 1988. 

Johni has been a member of the Iowa and Florida Bar since 1993. She resides in Johnston, Iowa, with her husband, Dave Schlindwein.