When considering which assets to pass on to family and which to give to charity through your will or living trust, be sure to work with legal and financial advisors who can help you weigh the benefits and burdens associated with each asset. For instance, if your estate includes both retirement plan assets and appreciated stocks and bonds, consider contributing the retirement plan assets to charity and the appreciated securities to loved ones. Retirement plan and IRA assets passing to anyone other than a spouse or charity will be subject to one or more taxes, in some cases reducing the value of the assets by as much as 70 percent. Appreciated stocks and bonds, however, can, in most cases, be passed to loved ones, with the security receiving a “step up in basis” that removes any capital gains tax burden.