The late Robert Wilson's philosophy of giving is not for everyone, but his advice that the young should concentrate just on "their families and getting rich" is definitely not.

"In 2010, Gates asked Wilson to join the list of wealthy people taking his Giving Pledge. Wilson turned him down, saying that the Pledge was largely an empty gesture, one that allowed people to set up family-run foundations likely to become “bureaucracy-ridden sluggards.” He’s got a point there. The Giving Pledge has no standards for effectiveness or transparency, so just about anything can qualify as a charitable contribution. But here’s where Wilson lost me...." -- John Kluge, Forbes