As a Washington State University student, Glenn Osterhout ’82 discovered something that changed his life: a community where he truly belonged. That sense of belonging and connection shaped his college experience, influenced his career and commitment to service, and ultimately inspired him to include a $6.5 million gift to WSU in his estate plans, along with a commitment of at least $200,000.00 a year for three years to WSU Athletics.
“WSU changed my life as it has for so many of us fortunate enough to have that experience,” Osterhout says.
During three decades as a certified financial planner, Osterhout saw firsthand how often people postponed estate planning, sometimes leaving loved ones and charitable priorities unrealized. He wasn’t about to make that mistake and reviews his will every three years.
Why six friends chose WSU
In early spring of 1978, when Osterhout was a senior at Inglemoor High School and had been accepted at both WSU and UW, he still had not decided where he wanted to go to college—nor had several of his friends. One of those friends’ sisters, however, told them WSU was a great place to go to college and suggested they “make a visit and check it out.” The following week, Glenn and five of his good buddies piled into a Ford LTD station wagon, left Kenmore, WA, on a Friday morning and arrived in Pullman that afternoon.
His friend’s sister had arranged for them to stay at a fraternity house, and the six friends were struck by how welcoming everyone at WSU was. Students invited them to parties, included them in pickup basketball games, cheered alongside them at intramural competitions, and eagerly shared their experiences and what they loved about WSU. “There was so much going on, everybody was involved in something and wanted you to be a part of it,” Osterhout said.
On the drive back, the six friends talked about how they loved WSU and its sense of community.
“Back then we couldn’t really articulate exactly what WSU had that UW and other colleges didn’t have,” said Osterhout, “but it was clearly a college community that had a small-town feel, big time athletics and a world class education.”
All six decided they were going to WSU.
“That first year, we were all trying to figure college out together, and we got a lot of help along the way—it seemed like everyone was there to help you,” said Osterhout. By his sophomore year, that sense of community made it easy for him to get involved and become civically minded.
Osterhout got involved in student government, and by his senior year, he was student body vice president, a demanding job that involved working alongside the student body president, coordinating with students and the administration, lobbying in Olympia and discussing and debating budgets and student initiatives.
“That job really prepared me for the professional world while convincing me that I wanted to be a contributing member of the community, as well as committed to helping others,” said Osterhout.
A passion for helping people through financial planning
While enrolled at WSU, Osterhout worked summers with a commercial fishing company, trolling for salmon, to help pay for college. After graduation, he worked ten years for Carnation (purchased by Nestlé in 1985) at its Los Angeles headquarters, where he rose in the ranks of sales management and marketing. Despite his success, Osterhout decided to change careers.
Lessons from his student leadership at WSU influenced his decision. He wanted to return to the Pacific Northwest and work in a profession where he could help people directly. Passionate about helping people better manage their finances and prepare for retirement, Osterhout founded his own financial planning firm in 1993 and built it from the ground up.
After 30 years as a certified financial planner, Osterhout became deeply knowledgeable about estate planning and earned a reputation for taking excellent care of his clients. By learning about them as people and their financial goals, he gained firsthand insights into how thoughtful estate planning could best help them. Osterhout estimates he ultimately helped thousands of people reach their financial goals, but he was always concerned that many of his clients first came to him without a will.
“If you don’t have a will,” Osterhout said, “you’re creating an absolute nightmare for those you love in life because your assets and property can end up in probate for years. From there the state will decide who receives your assets and property, and those you intended to receive it could end up with nothing.” Osterhout adds, “If you already have a will, I recommend you review it every three to five years as life changes. In this process, please consider WSU as a beneficiary as I have. In addition to WSU, we have many trusted Cougs in financial planning, estate planning, and accounting that can assist you. Please visit cougsfirst.org to search.”
Once a Coug, always a Coug
Although his student government days are behind him, Osterhout has continued to serve WSU on many athletics committees, as a member of the WSU Foundation Board of Directors, Co-Founder of CougsFirst!, and in partnership with the WSU Office of Corporate Engagement to build WSU Corporate Cougs. His successful 30-year career has enabled him to give generously to WSU through gifts to Cougar Athletics, the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, and the Carson College of Business, along with the $6.5 million estate he plans to leave to WSU. In addition, the annual commitment of $200,000.00 for three years to WSU Athletics will be split between the tax-deductible Cougar Athletic Fund for scholarships and the Football Excellence Fund for institutional revenue sharing.
His estate will benefit four named endowments established to support: student-athlete scholarships, the Football Excellence Fund, scholarships for students in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, and the Carson College of Business Dean’s Excellence Fund.
“I not only want to help young men and women get a world-class education and have the same great college experience I had,” said Osterhout, “but I want WSU, which is making a difference in so many areas of our lives, to continue delivering on its land grant mission of providing practical solutions to real world problems.”
He is especially quick to point out that supporting a charity through retirement account beneficiary designations is often one of the easiest gifts to arrange. Combined with a will or trust, such plans can help individuals care for loved ones, reduce taxes, and leave a meaningful impact on organizations they value. “By gifting to WSU, the university receives the full value of the assets and avoids taxes in the process—it’s a win-win.”
Though retired, Osterhout remains passionate about helping others plan for the future and support the University we all love. He encourages fellow alumni “to create and review your will by taking care of loved ones first—and then givesomething to WSU in your area of passion.”
“With these gifts my hope is to inspire others to develop or review their will and include WSU in that process along with annual giving to WSU in your area of interest.”
For information about including WSU in your estate plans through a will, living trust, or beneficiary designation, visit us online or contact Theresa Boyer, senior director of gift planning, at (509) 358-7584 or theresa.boyer@wsu.edu. For information about how you can support the Cougar Athletic Fund (CAF), student-athlete scholarships, or an athletics excellence fund, please reach out to Tyler Mariucci, executive senior associate director of athletics, at (509) 335-0220 or tyler.mariucci@wsu.edu.