Q:  I was a representative for the estate of my cousin, who died in 2015. I have bins full of her information, including all the tax returns, etc. I want to start shredding it, but I could burn out my shredder. Would it be safe to just put all this in the recycle bin?   – S.G., Davenport

A:  If everything with your cousin’s estate is finalized, it is safe to shred those documents. But don’t put them in the recycle bin. There are companies that will shred documents for a fee or local events where you can bring documents to shred safely. –  Jessica Hall

Q:  I inherited an IRA from my father. Can I use the RMD from that account to make a tax-free donation to a qualified charity? I’m 69 years old.  – B.D., Orlando

A:  Not until you turn 70 ½. At that point, you can give any portion of that amount directly to the charity of your choice and avoid it from being counted as taxable income.  This is a better option, as you would only get a potential tax deduction for normal charitable donations against all of your taxable income vs. it being excluded from taxable income. –  John Cash III

Have a question? E-mail askanexpert@fpafla.com. Include your name (only your initials will be printed), hometown and phone. Questions are answered by Certified Financial Planners from the Financial Planning Association of Central Florida. Answers are for educational purposes only; you should also consult a financial professional. Questions and answers may be edited for space considerations.