Estate planning often seems to get the lowest priority when people make retirement plans — if it makes the priority list at all. Even some of the most loving and proactive parents avoid working out strategies for the smooth transfer of wealth to their family members.
It makes sense. No one likes to think about their own death, and the decisions that must be made can seem daunting. Unfortunately, for those who delay, there may be ramifications — at least for their loved ones.
Procrastination almost always has consequences. If you put off doing your laundry, you’ll run out of clothes to wear. If you put off going to the gas station, your car won’t run. Those are your problems, for you to handle. If you delay deciding who gets what when you die, it’s your heirs — not you — who will be left to deal with the paperwork and the issues that are bound to crop up.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
It isn’t a pleasant task at any time, but especially not when people are in mourning.
When I give workshops, I usually ask how many participants have been involved in settling an estate. Typically, about half raise their hands. Then I ask how many enjoyed the experience. Every hand goes down.
Instead of a peaceful transition — what most people surely hope for — all too often the process creates discord among family and friends. And the financial consequences can be challenging.
After speaking with thousands of high net worth families and business owners over a number of years, The Williams Group family wealth consultancy found that 70% of wealthy families lost their wealth by the second generation and 90% had lost it by the third generation.
Which explains why nearly every country and culture has some version of the rather cynical saying, “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.”
What goes wrong? Using its data, The Williams Group 1 found three main causes of wealth-transfer failure:
- Trust and communication breakdown within the family — 60%
- Inadequately prepared heirs — 25%
- All other causes (tax, legal, etc.) — 15%
These figures show that estate planning tools and the advisers who use them usually aren’t the problem. It’s more about what’s happening within the family — the connections and conversations they have.
So, how can families fix these problems? Start by focusing on three areas:
1. Work on relationships and reconciliation.
Make relationships with your adult children a priority. Don’t skip over Generation 2 (your kids) to Generation 3 (your grandkids). If you aren’t getting along, work on it. Set an example and take the lead in healing any fractures to your family bonds. This will make communication much easier for everyone and help avoid hard feelings now and when you’re gone.
2. Capture your story.
Be intentional about the values you hold dear and share how those values trace back to your history. Many young people today think they can get everything they need to know from Google, not from Grandpa and Grandma. With that in mind, it’s no wonder so many want to spend all their time at the golf course or on a cruise. Retirees have a vast reservoir of wisdom and know-how. Don’t wait to be invited — pass it on to the ones you love.
3. Share your plan with your heirs.
In movies and novels, there’s always that big moment when the family gathers for the reading of the will. There’s usually a winner and a loser — and a battle. That’s fiction and a recipe for failure. You don’t have to disclose the exact dollars and cents involved in your legacy plan, but you should share the details of who, what and where. Misguided expectations about valued items or inherited funds can lead to bitterness and even lawsuits. Make it a goal to keep that from happening.
Clearly, there’s more to estate planning than signing and filing the proper documents. The good news is, you don’t need to go it alone when you’re putting together the particulars of your plan. A financial adviser who specializes in retirement is in a unique position to help you accomplish your legacy goals within your overall financial plan. He or she can help you coordinate with your attorney or CPA to make sure your wealth transfer goes smoothly. And, because things can get complicated, your loved ones may be included in any conversations you wish.
Just don’t put it off until it’s too late. Your wealth transfer should be a blessing, not a burden.
Kim Franke-Folstad contributed to this article.
1 — Roy Williams and Vic Preisser. Preparing Heirs (San Francisco: Robert Reed Publishers, 2010).
Investment advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM). AEWM and J. Biance Financial are not affiliated companies. Neither the firm nor its representatives may give tax or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. 648771
The appearances in Kiplinger were obtained through a PR program. The columnist received assistance from a public relations firm in preparing this piece for submission to Kiplinger.com. Kiplinger was not compensated in any way.
-
Dow Jones Adds 463 Points as Rate-Cut Odds Rise: Stock Market TodaySome futures traders are now pricing in the possibility of a jumbo rate cut in September, which lifted stocks today.
-
Bullish IPO: Should You Buy BLSH Stock?Wall Street is buzzing about the Bullish IPO, with the Peter Thiel-backed crypto company set to start trading today, August 13, under the ticker "BLSH."
-
How to Build Your Financial Legacy Three Piggy Banks at a TimeA wealth adviser shares a childhood saving technique that taught him lessons of stewardship, generosity and responsibility and helped him answer the question we all need to answer to define our lives by impact rather than greed: 'What is this all for?'
-
Which of These Four Withdrawal Strategies Is Right for You?Your retirement savings may need to last 30 years or more, so don't pick a withdrawal strategy without considering all the options. Here are four to explore.
-
DST Exit Strategies: An Expert Guide to What Happens When the Trust SellsUnderstanding the endgame: How Delaware statutory trust dispositions work, what investors can expect and why the exit is probably more important than the entrance.
-
Think Selling Your Home 'As Is' Means You'll Have No Worries? Think AgainThere are significant risks and legal obligations involved in selling a home 'as is' and by yourself, without a real estate agent.
-
What the OBBB Means for Social Security Taxes and Your Retirement: A Wealth Adviser's GuideFor Americans in lower- and middle-income tax brackets, the enhanced deduction for older people reduces taxable income, shielding most of their Social Security benefits from being taxed.
-
Financial Planner vs Investment Manager: Who's the Better Value for You?When markets are shaky, who do you trust with your money? A recent study provides useful insights into the value that different financial professionals offer.
-
I'm a Financial Adviser: This Is How You Could Be Leaving Six Figures in Social Security on the TableClaiming Social Security is about more than filing paperwork and expecting a check. When you do it and how you do it have huge financial implications that last the rest of your life.
-
The Big Pause: Why Are So Many Americans Afraid to Retire?While new research sheds light on Americans' growing reluctance to quit work in later life, can anything be done to help those with the retirement jitters?
