GPC Spotlight

Robert L. Packard

One of the wonderful members of our Gift Planning Council is Robert L. Packard. We are excited for you to get to know him a little better in this edition of the GPC Spotlight!

1. Background and Practice

I graduated from BYU in 1976 with Masters of Accountancy. My internship experience helped me decide that I wanted to work in public accounting and specialize in tax practice. After eleven years with a large Arizona local (five offices) firm, I started my own tax practice in 1987 in Mesa, AZ. Packard, Appleby & Rogers, P.C. now has four partners (including my son, TJ) and provides tax and accounting services for individuals, businesses, trusts and estate planning. I developed a specialization and passion for charitable tax planning after being involved in my first experience with a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRUT) in 1983.

2. Involvement with GPC

I became aware of LDS Foundation (now Philanthropies) while involved in charitable tax planning in the mid-eighties. I truly enjoyed working with Joe Gonzalez, Jim Olsen and other professionals at LDS Foundation that were such a wonderful resource for me. I remember telling Joe that the team at LDS Foundation was the best kept secret of the tax profession. We discussed many times the need for professional advisors to be more aware of the technical and relationship skills of the LDS Foundation team. I encouraged the suggestion of a conference for advisors to provide continuing education and greater correlation between LDS Foundation and professional advisors.

3. Favorite Experiences with GPC

I have thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of my participation with GPC—Planning sessions for the annual conference, participation as a presenter (twice) and, especially, participation at the conferences. I have attended each of the eleven conferences. While CPE hours are a benefit, the greatest benefit has been sharing and learning among similarly passionate advisors that have a common commitment to gospel principles as a foundation for charitable planning in their professional practices.

4. Memorable Client Experience

I have fond memories of very significant clients, Charles and Bev (non-member and semi-active member), that anticipated selling the successful business they had created. I explained the advantages of a CRUT, and they were favorable to the concept but did have a charity for which they felt passionately to be the charitable remainder. Charles was an alumnus of Penn State and an avid football fan of the Nittany Lions. BYU was scheduled to play Penn State in Provo in October, 1992. I arranged with LDS Foundation for Charles and Bev to join me for a tour of campus, a theater production, pre-game lunch and great seats for the game (BYU won 30-17). My clients were very impressed with BYU—the campus, students, and everyone they met. A few months later they created four Charitable Remainder Trusts, of which two have BYU named as remainder beneficiary.