As the year winds down, it’s a good time to step back and ask whether our money is going where we want it to go. A financial plan isn’t only about saving and investing well. It’s also about aligning our money with our values.

At O’Connor Financial Group, we love generosity, and we love helping our clients be generous. This year there’s more reason to give.

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What’s new in 2026

Starting this tax year, you can take a charitable deduction even if you don’t itemize:

• Single filers: up to $1,000

• Married filing jointly: up to $2,000

Most households take the standard deduction, so until 2026 many charitable gifts brought no tax benefit at all.
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A few things to know:

• Gifts must be made in cash (check, card, or bank transfer) by December 31.

• They must go directly to a qualified charity. Gifts to donor-advised funds and private foundations don’t count toward this deduction.

• If you itemize, there’s a new rule too: only the giving above 0.5% of your AGI is deductible. Planning ahead can make a real difference.

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If you already plan to give to charity, great. We’ll help you make sure you get all the tax benefits for it.

If you’ve been considering supporting a cause you care about, the new rules make it a little easier to say yes to a ministry, nonprofit, or community need.

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What else is new in 2026?

We launched O’Connor Tax Partners this year to better serve you, our valued clients. Your financial advisor and your tax professional are now on the same team. That means fewer hand-offs, no repeating yourself, and a tax plan built together with your financial plan, not separate from it.

If you’d like to talk through year-end giving, 2026 tax filing, or any other tax questions, we’d love to hear from you.​
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We're here to help,

Jordan Richert, CPA