Many people believe to truly appreciate its value and purchasing power, money should always be earned. When money is earned, it is easier to understand the value in saving and/or investing it. However, the ability of one generation to sustain and pass on a family fortune to another is a quality that defines said generations. Accordingly, the young Generation Z stands to inherit $30 trillion in inheritance money from the Baby Boomer generation in the coming decades.
Inheritance Money and Generation Z
Generation Z is the global demographic of people between the ages of 18 and 22. Teenagers and young people. The Baby Boomer generation is the generation of people born between 1946 and 1964. Or, middle-aged and retirement age individuals. Generation Z, the precursor generation to Millennials, are not known for their financial acumen or saving for the future.
On the other hand, many consider Baby Boomers to have hard-working attitudes and mindsets for saving for the future. They might be the wealthiest generation demographic ever. Within the next few decades, over $30 trillion in inheritance wealth will transition from the Baby Boomers to their Generation Z beneficiaries. How they will use this wealth after the transfer remains to be seen.
Age of Entitlement
Many financial analysts are concerned that a sense of entitlement among those in Generation Z will not help them appreciate the wealth they will inherit. In a recent poll, over 63% of wealthy Generation Z members believe that the only way to secure their future retirement is through inheritance. Many members of Generation Z view inheritance as the only way to secure a stable financial lifestyle.
The survey also had some other startling findings. While about 63% of Generation Z members believe their parents have bequeathed them an inheritance, another 17% believe that their grandparents have done the same. Over 17% of Generation Z members believe that someone who isn’t even a blood relative will leave them an inheritance.
Diminished Expectations
Some experts believe that members of Generation Z may be in for a rude awakening if they are expecting massive fortunes in the future. There will be a transfer of wealth in the decades to come. That is certain. It happens all the time. The thing is that it does not always occur in a manner that is solely beneficial to the beneficiaries.
Many Baby Boomers might spend some of their hard-saved money on themselves. There is also the cost of living expenses inherent in post-retirement living. Estate tax obligations and legal fees will also strip a lot of money away from the that $30 trillion-dollar estimate. The point is that a lot of this money will not be just waiting for its young inheritors to collect and do with as they wish.
Temper Expectations
Baby Boomers and those leaving money to young relatives should prepare them to inherit wealth. Frankly explain how much they stand to receive to temper expectations. Advise them on the responsibility of saving and investing wisely. It is also not a bad idea to donate to charity, to illustrate the benefit of giving. Money should be earned. But a lot of people get their wealth from inheritance money. Even then, we can all impart lessons in financial responsibility.
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Allen Francis was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years with no money, no financial literacy, and no responsibility when he had money. To him, the phrase “personal finance,” contains the power that anyone has to grow their own wealth. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including focusing on your needs instead of your wants, asking for help when you need it, saving and investing in your own small business.
My greatest generation parents passed down a seven figure inheritance to me and an identical amount to my brother. In turn I’ll hand down a much larger amount to each of my three kids. The ironic part is I was in my fifties when I received it and my kids will probably be that old as well. So basically it doesn’t move the needle any because by the time you are fifty you ought to be financially independent already. Once you’ve got all you need, which was my situation, you just invest the inheritance and pass it on someday to your kids. More money has no value once you have enough.