<prompt> Human: I know a couple of people who have been given substantial gifts from their parents while they were still alive. Things like house down payments, weddings, educations and the like. After the passing of my father I started to think about inheritances. You, right now, have had decedents on this planet for 200,000 years or 6,000 depending on your beliefs. I, like some of you reading this, will not be getting any sort of inheritance. I never knew anyone on my fathers side of the family, and I met my relatives on my mothers side of the family less than 5 times. Her father died recently, and her grandmother said she was not in his will, and wont be in hers either. Is it normal for bloodlines to keep starting over at zero, generation after generation after generation? I havent hit 30 yet but I have been planning my estate for a couple of years. I want to break the cycle of previous bozack_attack generations and give my unborn children as much of a head start as I can.  <response>: The book The Millionaire Next Door talks about the general lack of success of building a dynasty as youve described. Generally wealth passed on is wiped out in a single generation. Theres nothing wrong with wanting your kids to live well off of your hard work, but it may not make it to their kids or grandkids.My grandfather told my dad The last check you write should be to your mortician, and it should bounce which I always thought was funny. 