Craig Baldwin

The Foundation reached out to Emeritus Trustee, Craig Baldwin, to learn why he and his wife have made a Legacy gift to the Foundation. Here's what he had to say.

I began working as a summer actuarial student in 1965 while attending the University of Iowa. After a two year stint in the US Army, I started my full-time employment in the life insurance industry. In 1981, I transitioned from working in the direct life insurance field to working in the reinsurance industry. After thirty years, I retired to travel the world with my wife Merilyn. Our favorite vacation spot on the planet is Bermuda. We have been there 14 times!

The greatest benefit of making this planned gift is knowing that I am contributing back to a profession that has done so much for me and others. I've always been an active volunteer, and I spent several years on The Actuarial Foundation's (TAF) Board of Trustees, serving as Chair for one year. While on the Board I helped create and run a TAF golf tournament in conjunction with a reinsurance conference called ReFocus in Las Vegas. During that tenure I helped raise close to $250,000 in donations to support the Foundation's programs. I currently serve as a mentor for TAF scholarship recipients and as an emeritus trustee of the Foundation.

It was at a Foundation Board meeting that I first learned about leaving a legacy to the Foundation. I have made the Foundation a beneficiary of a portion of my investments. The amount of the gift should grow over time as my portfolio appreciates in value. Merilyn and I hope this gift will contribute towards advancing the Foundation's mission of enhancing math education and financial literacy.

Creating a legacy gift is so easy to do and takes VERY LITTLE effort. You don't need a lawyer to make it happen!

Thank you, Craig, for sharing your story.