Personal Giving Stories

Bob Uteg, associate manager at A.G. Edwards & Sons in Springfield, Ill., has hundreds of clients counting on him. During his 40 years with the company, Bob has certainly learned to recognize good investments. He and his wife Marilyn are making one of these good investments themselves through their planned giving.

Bob and Marilyn were born in the same year and graduated from high school the same year—Marilyn in Centralia, Ill., and Bob in Dundee, Ill. Marilyn took a job with Illinois Bell directly out of high school. Over the years, she has had six different jobs with the telephone company. Perhaps her last job prior to retirement was her favorite, an educational representative. She called on primary and secondary schools in her district.

Bob graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana. After a two-year stint in the Korean War, he earned a master's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in marketing and management. Following ten years working for a utility in St. Louis, Bob joined the home office of A.G. Edwards there. He transferred to Springfield, where he has lived for 40 years.

Over the years, the Utegs have given to local charities in Springfield. "We feel strongly about giving locally," Bob says, "because that is where we earned most of our money, so we want some of it to stay right here."

Giving to education has always been a priority for them, and they decided to add UIS—a wonderful institution—to the list of organizations they support. Their gifts will be for operating support as well as for scholarships.

"It's so important to find job satisfaction," Bob explains. "I wouldn't be working now if I didn't love my work so much. Education helps people find that job satisfaction. That's why we support education so much."

The Utegs have named 21 organizations that will benefit by their bequests. "We started a charitable remainder trust in 1992," Bob explains. "With the trust, we get an income for our lifetimes, after which gifts are made to the beneficiaries."

Since estate planning is a part of his job, Bob often has the opportunity to help his clients with their giving programs. Some of them really welcome the help.

Asked to define success, Bob says, "Finding happiness not only in your own lives but in helping others to be happy also." With that definition, his encouragement to others to give as he and Marilyn do may be the best investment advice he gives.

The U of I Foundation gift planning staff is pleased to answer your questions and offer assistance at any time. Please contact the Foundation to learn more.