As the holidays approach, many investors are eyeing year-end gifts to charity . If you're retired, there's a key move that could help maximize your tax break , experts say.

The strategy, known as qualified charitable distributions , or QCDs, is a direct transfer from your pretax individual retirement account to an eligible nonprofit organization .

"It's one of the IRS' best-kept secrets for retirees," said certified financial planner Ashton Lawrence at Mariner Wealth Advisors in Greenville, South Carolina.

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