Below is a review of the posts on Facebook and LinkedIn from the past week. You can check out the full posts by clicking on the links.
NOTE: remember that we now post every other day.
The posts on Monday 7/6/2026, here and here, noted homeowner wants answers from HOA over who pays after wild hogs tear up yard. What if it were deer or bear or other wild animals here in your PA yard?
A homeowner says the wild hogs that tore through his backyard are gone, but the damage they left behind is still there. Now, the question is who should pay to fix it. Earlier this week, a reporter showed the damage left behind after wild hogs ripped through backyards in the community (linked in the post).
A contracted trapper removed 22 hogs from the neighborhood, but for Glen and Stephanie Wulff, the problem did not end there. The couple bought their home in February after years of looking for the right place to retire in Southwest Florida. Glen said he and his wife had been searching for a home in the Fort Myers area for nearly 20 years before finding this community. His quote is in the post. The home checked nearly every box (as detailed in the post).
Photos from just a few weeks ago show the Wulffs’ backyard with green grass behind their brand-new home. But now, that same yard is covered with torn-up grass, patches of dirt and damage Glen says was left behind after wild hogs came through the area. (The post contains several photos.)
Wulff says his homeowners’ association told him he is responsible for covering the repair cost. What they pay in HOA assessments, and what those assessments are supposed to cover, is all in the post.
Wulff shared with the reporter the landscape and irrigation information for the community which includes what lawn-related services the HOA provides.
The community’s Environmental Conservation Manager and Wildlife Biologist told the reporter that feral hogs root through the ground looking for food. And that is part of why Wulff believes he should not have to foot the repair bill.
Wulff also pointed to what he says is a clear divide between the yards that were damaged and the neighboring properties that were not touched. Three yards were hit hard, while homes next door were left untouched.
The reporter emailed the HOA manager, asking whether wild hog damage is considered the homeowner’s responsibility and whether there is any repair process or assistance available for residents. After not hearing back, the reporter called the next day. So far, there has been no response.
For Wulff, what was supposed to be a retirement dream home has now turned into a fight to reclaim his backyard.
TAKEAWAY: This is probably a legal issue, i.e., if HOA assessments cover lawn maintenance, then does the cause of damage to the lawn make a difference in repair responsibility? Talk to a community association lawyer for this or similar questions.
The posts on Wednesday 7/8/2026, here and here, were about Using Your Assets for Good: Incorporating Charitable Giving Into Your Financial or Estate Plan. This is part of the joy of having enough wealth to make a difference in the lives of others. For many people, dividing up their assets can be an opportunity to think about causes near and dear to them, sharing their good fortune and leaving a gift for causes or organizations they are passionate about can bring immense joy and satisfaction.
While there are some legal implications, charitable giving may also provide tax benefits for those who integrate it into their financial and estate planning. The 2026 federal annual gift tax exclusion is noted in the post; this allows individuals to make gifts up to that amount without using any portion of their lifetime exemption. The federal estate and gift tax exemption is also noted in the post (and is subject to applicable rules and elections). The limits are subject to future legislative changes and inflation adjustments. People should consult their tax and legal advisors regarding current limits and planning opportunities and how charitable giving strategies may fit within their overall financial and estate plans (in other words, discuss the legal and tax implications with professionals).
If you are thinking about, or plan to, integrate charitable giving into your financial or estate plan, you should first identify a cause you are genuinely passionate about and then reputable charities serving that cause. Consider how your donation will be allocated by the charity, including program services versus administrative costs. Good resources for researching charities and nonprofits are listed and linked in the post.
Charitable Giving Through Wills and Trusts
There are many ways to use your assets for good, ranging from simple to complex. Each method has different tax implications which should be understand fully before making a gift. Once you understand the complexities and the tax implications, your gift can be all the more meaningful. There are at least two ways to include a gift in your estate plan: a charitable bequest or a contingent bequest.
Charitable Bequest. This is a gift to a nonprofit organization through a will or trust that allows you as the donor to remain in control of the assets during your lifetime (which may help reduce estate taxes). How this type of gift can be structured is described in the post.
Contingent Bequest. This type of gift offers flexibility if the primary beneficiary of the estate predeceases the testator (the person making the Will) or if the named beneficiaries disclaim (say they do not want) their inheritance. In these situations, assets may instead pass to the designated charitable organization.
There is a similarity between the two types of bequests for estate planning purposes: see the post.
Split the Giving and Potentially Increase the Benefits
Married couples looking to maximize certain charitable planning opportunities (again, discuss with legal and financial professionals!) may consider split gift strategies. Two commonly used examples are:
Charitable Gift Annuities. This is also sometimes referred to as a ‘split gift’ and allows a donor to transfer assets to a charitable organization. In exchange, the charity agrees to make fixed payments to one or two beneficiaries for life. Depending on the circumstances, there could be tax benefits as noted in the post.
Charitable Remainder Trusts. This is another type of split gift strategy; it is often used with highly appreciated assets and may provide a current charitable income tax deduction. There may also be additional flexibility related to benefits during the donor’s lifetime as discussed in the post.
Large Scale Charitable Giving: Using Your Assets in a Bigger Way
Donor Advised Fund (DAF). This allows donors to make charitable contributions to an account maintained by a sponsoring public charity. The donor contributes assets, receives a tax deduction (if eligible), and can recommend grants to qualified charitable organizations over time. Who might find a DAF advantageous, and the flexibility offered by a DAF, is detailed in the post.
Family Foundation. This might be a suitable alternative for people seeking to make a significant impact on a particular charitable goal. Family foundations can provide charitable and tax planning opportunities, but the downsides include complex rules and more as noted in the post. There might also be continuing involvement requirements (as also described in the post) which might prove difficult for some donors.
Leverage Your Charitable Giving with Life Insurance
As people continue to save and accumulate assets over time, they may no longer need life insurance for the original purpose. That can create an opportunity to transfer the policy to a qualified charitable organization. The potential tax benefits and what happens when the donor dies is in the post. Individuals considering this should consult their financial, tax, and legal advisors to understand the benefits (or potential negative ramifications).
Communication and Expert Advice Make Charitable Giving Easier
Because charitable giving decisions can affect family finances and legacy goals, it usually is important to discuss your plans with family members at the outset, especially if the giving will impact others now. And meet with a financial advisor, tax professional, and attorney to ensure that you can or will be able to accomplish your giving goal(s).
TAKEAWAY: Giving back to one’s (local or other) community is a responsibility many people feel compelled to fulfill. Understanding the options, benefits, and potential drawbacks of charitable giving (by discussing with financial and legal professionals) can help you make a meaningful impact with causes that matter most to you during your life and thereafter as a legacy.
The posts on Friday 7/10/2026, here and here, asked, What Makes A Good HOA (or Condo) Board Member? Many people are drawn to a neighborhood with a (condo or) homeowners association because of the perks that come with membership. Others want to take on a much bigger role and join the board. So, what makes a good condo/HOA board member?
Some key traits of a good board member are financial literacy, open-mindedness, foresight, and honesty. Progressive thinking can also be important to maximize the HOA’s potential and efficiency. And let’s not forget about conflict resolution skills (for the reason noted in the post). Joining the board comes with many responsibilities, so people must have strong time management skills. So let’s talk about 10 Essential HOA Board Member Traits:
1. Financial Literacy. Board members handle both operating and reserve funds that pay for community maintenance, renovations, and community services. Managing the funds is essential to community operations. When either operating or reserve funds are short, the HOA will need to levy a special assessment to help with that shortfall. More discussion of special assessments is in the post. If a board member is financially literate, they can more easily navigate financial decisions and plan for emergencies.
2. Strong Relationships. It’s hard to join an HOA board without strong connections with neighbors. But that can slightly change once you join the board. Power dynamic shifts and you will have more responsibilities. You are still an owner (in most cases), but you also wear a different hat now. A great HOA board member knows how to maintain relationships while protecting neighbors’ interests (i.e., how to fulfill their fiduciary duty). The challenge as a board member? See the post.
3. Empathy And Understanding. How these come into play, and why they are considered good skills for board members, is described in detail in the post.
4. Conflict Resolution Skills. No board or committee is immune to conflict. Members mean well but can squabble over decisions, opinions, and tough situations. If everyone disagrees and refuses to give in, nothing will ever get done, and the board will fail the community. Conflict resolution skills will help you navigate tough decisions and keep the group on track (because someone has to keep things moving – a board that cannot make decisions is no good to the community).
5. Transparency. Be honest. But remember that does NOT mean that the community is privy to every single word that’s spoken at board meetings or all information provided to board members in order that they can make decisions on behalf of the community. Walking this line is also a hard part of fulfilling the fiduciary duty that comes with being a board member.
6. Compliance. You might be on the board, but you are still an owner subject to the same rules and restrictions as other owners. So, what should you do? See the post.
7. Open-Mindedness. Hear others’ perspectives – the other board members, neighbors, and outside advice. Some issues will be ones that the board cannot decide without help. That’s when they need to consult a lawyer, accountant, or financial advisor. Can you disagree with others? See the post.
8. Progressiveness. How this trait might apply to HOA boards is discussed in the post (and can be a big boost to the association).
9. Delegation Skills. Some HOAs are member- (or self-) managed (meaning the board does it all), while other communities use a professional manager (or management company). Some HOAs have committees dedicated to different needs (those listed in the post are very common). Whie committees are not required (unless the governing documents provide they are), but the board should know how to delegate no matter the management style (see the post for more on this, including self-managed).
10. Foresight. Looking to the past to see how the HOA got to where it is now can be useful, but board members must also look to and plan for the future. Some ways to do that are listed in the post (and may involve consulting appropriate professionals).
TAKEAWAY: Good board members are honest, transparent, and empathetic, financially literate, and set a great example by following the rules and encouraging others to do the same. They also know when to consult with professionals, such as a community association lawyer.