We are about to enter into a period of wealth transfer so massive that it will be the largest wealth transfer in history. For the next 50 years, more than $1 trillion in assets will be transferred each year totaling an expected $59 trillion!
As much as we don’t want to think about our family members and loved ones passing away, it’s important to talk about wealth transfers now. Of the $59 trillion that will be transferred, $36 trillion is expected to go to heirs. But unfortunately, a whopping 70% of wealth transfers are not successful and the main culprit is familial issues. According to The Williams Group, family dynamics and unresolved issues among family members play a huge role in the failure of wealth transfers. While the beneficiaries may receive the assets successfully, it’s after the transfer that conflict, strife, and failure have a good chance of setting in.
Tell your heirs about your financial details. We normally avoid talking about our personal finances even with loved ones, but you need to be sure that your heirs are familiar enough with the details of your estate so they can assume management or oversee the assets once you’re gone.
Involve your heirs in the estate planning process. This will help to generate dialog about how your estate will be passed own. This is also a good time to work on your family’s mission statement.
If you are passing along a business or large investment, you should talk with your heirs about your values and hopes for these assets. Clarify now so they aren’t let guessing later.
Organize your financial documents and keep them in one location. You don’t want your heirs having to scramble to find different parts of your estate. Keep all of this information in a safe location, and let your heirs know where it’s located.
Speak to a trusted family advisor. This can play a vital role in ensuring a successful wealth transfer. By engaging the entire family, a family advisor can help craft a plan with the long-term goal of helping the next generation thrive. Many family advisors will conduct speaker series about raising financially responsible children. They can also provide advice around philanthropy to introduce gift-giving strategies or creating a family foundation.
Help build the relationship between your heirs and your financial team (financial advisor, estate planning attorney and CPA). By helping forge this relationship early, your heirs will have resources to turn to if the transfer of wealth gets complicated. It will also help prepare them for their future roles and all that the inheritance brings.
Remember, strong family communication is the key to a successful wealth transfer.