Olly Merrill ’10

A 2010 graduate, son of parents who met at Williams, Olly had strong ties to the college before applying. He was sold by the academic rigor, the lacrosse team and the community.  After graduation before settling into a legal career, he worked as a fishing and hunting guide in Alaska. He followed law school at University of Wisconsin with a tax LLM at Northwestern in Chicago and recently became a partner at Schiff Hardin where he’s been specializing in Trusts and Estates for nine years.  Given his career, adding Williams to his estate plan came naturally to him. 

What motivated you to add Williams to your will? 

My time at Williams was a bit of a roller coaster, but ultimately, those four years were the most transformative of my life.I was lucky to find great caring professors, inspiring coaches and wonderful lifelong friends.

So my motivation for the gift is to pay it forward. As an estate lawyer, I’m frequently contemplating mortality and legacy. If something were to happen to me tomorrow, what do I want my legacy to be? 

What impact do you hope your gift will have? 

Given that its an estate plan, I hope the impact will come far in the future! I recognize that my individual contribution might not make a huge dent on its own, but I believe the collective impact of alumni giving is vital. I want to ensure the college has the resources to remain a meaningful place for future students, just as it was for me.

Can you share the  process for making a planned gift? 

Some people perceive creating a bequest as a hurdle, but the process is really very simple. A bequest is often just a single sentence in a will requiring less than a milligram of ink. 

For me its like going to the dentist, something you might put off, but after the appointment you feel better knowing your teeth are in good shape.  A bequest provides a sense of peace knowing your affairs are in order.

How can the Office of Gift Planning help? 

Since I have legal expertise, I handled my own plan, but for others, the Office of Gift Planning can be a great resource. They can guide alumni through everything from simple naming conventions to the variety of complex vehicles (CRUTs and CRATs and more–its the alphabet soup of trusts).

Any other thoughts?

Creating a will isn't just about money; it's a modeling opportunity. We can demonstrate our values and show our kids that supporting institutions like Williams is important to us.