Retirement Planning is Both Easy and Tax Efficient

As a tax lawyer, I knew making a testamentary gift, particularly via a retirement plan, is both easy and tax efficient. Fordham Law School prepared me well for my legal career. To express my profound gratitude, it was therefore obvious that designating Fordham Law School as a beneficiary of one of my retirement plans was a good choice. Exempt from both estate and income tax, such a charitable gift is made by simply filling a form with the custodian—no need to involve a lawyer or change one’s will.

—Barnet Phillips LAW ’73

An Estate Gift from an Inspired Fordham Law Alumnus

Choosing to become a Fordham lawyer meant dedicating my professional life to the pursuit of justice in the service of others. That sense of purpose came alive during my time at Fordham Law—whether in the classroom, in late-night case prep with teammates, or in the moot courtroom, where I was fortunate to be part of the team that won the national championship. We honed our skills in an environment shaped by collaboration, high standards, and the support of faculty and alumni mentors. That experience didn’t just prepare me to practice law—it instilled a lifelong commitment to the profession and to the Fordham Law community.

For me, making an estate gift to Fordham Law is an extension of that commitment. It’s a way to help ensure that future Fordham lawyers have the same chance to grow, strive, and serve. We all move forward, but we also share a responsibility to reach back and lift others up. Contributing a legacy gift is one more way I can do that—as part of living out what it means to be a Fordham lawyer.

—Michael Cryan LAW ’95

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