Al and Janet Lindsten

Janet Lindsten (attended ’73 to ’76) remembers a particular chapel message she heard as a Wheaton student when communications professor Em Griffin spoke about putting family before work. Dr. Griffin’s admonition resonated as she and her husband, Al ’77, built successful careers in physical therapy and finance while starting their own family.

The Lindsten clan today includes daughter Katie and her husband, Carl McQueen, as well as two additional Wheaton graduates—son Matthew ’05 and his wife, Chrissy Afram Lindsten ’05. The latest addition to the family is Collin, a grandson born in April, whom Al has already assigned to the class of 2034.

The Lindstens know that estate planning is a vital aspect of caring for one’s family. Al and Janet wanted to provide for their children beyond their lifetime as well as give back to the college that made such an impact on them. They decided to take advantage of Wheaton’s  Gift Planning Services to help them develop a plan that would achieve their goals most effectively. The process started with a complimentary, thorough  estate analysis by Wheaton’s experienced staff.

“We wanted a way to benefit Wheaton and give back in a tangible way, as well as plan for a secure retirement and take care of our children after our passing in the most tax effective way,” Al says. “We knew Wheaton had an excellent estate planning department, and we wanted to take advantage of their services. Our goal was to benefit Wheaton, to allow our IRAs to pass without taxes, and to provide an income stream to our children upon our passing. We feel that has been accomplished. In fact, our expectations for what was accomplished were exceeded.

“Wheaton’s staff worked hand-in-hand with our own attorney to ensure that our goals were met and all the state and legal requirements were met. Our attorney was very impressed with the knowledge and understanding of the Wheaton staff, who spent a lot of time and effort in documenting and explaining alternatives and every aspect of the plan we implemented.”

Al and Janet are pleased to give back to an institution that means so much to their family. “Wheaton has provided the foundation for us to live out our faith in our daily lives in a secular society. It has taught us to think critically, understand truth, and live for Christ and His Kingdom.”