My grandmother used to teach us crazy songs. I have this memory of sitting in the back of her Subaru with my brother when I was just 7 or 8 years old belting out, “Nobody likes me. Everybody hates me. Guess I'll go eat worms!”
Of course, crazy songs aren't the only thing my grandparents taught me. They taught me a lot about family, the importance of hard work, and all kinds of key life skills. Now that I'm an adult, I'm especially grateful for the influence they had on my life. And I'm not alone.
A full 84% of Americans say it's important to know about their history.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free 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.
Dr. Karl Pillemer of Cornell University writes, “Research shows that as many as 9 out of 10 adult grandchildren feel their grandparents influenced their values and behaviors. Grandparents transmit to their grandchildren the values and norms of social order.”
What exactly do grandchildren want to know about their grandparents? I'm glad you asked. Here's what a survey conducted by Ancestry.com revealed:
Top 5 Things Americans Want to Know About Their Grandparents:
- Stories of when they were young (72%)
- Childhood memories (62%)
- Where your family came from (62%)
- Their heritage (62%)
- Life advice (51%)
Is Your Legacy Missing This Key Ingredient?
So often when an estate plan is drafted, you sit down with your attorney or financial adviser and focus on the tangibles — your investments, cash, jewelry or other items you plan to pass on. It’s easy to forget just how important the intangibles are.
What makes for a great legacy? A life well-lived, whatever that means to you. When you share your stories and memories with your loved ones, it helps them to navigate their own lives and discover values, principles and traits that enable them to develop deeper meaning. You can do this as a part of your estate plan—such as create a book, video or letter to be passed on to your loved ones when you die — or you can do it now and make it an active part of your life. (For more on that, read A Unique Estate-Planning Idea: How to Write Your Memoir.)
I’m always in favor of sharing as much as you can now because a close, loving family who talks with each other and knows one another’s stories is a family who has created a supportive culture for growth and introspection.
So, the next time you're sitting around the dinner table with your family, share a story about a meaningful experience, some family history or tell about that time when Aunt Lisa told a joke so funny that it cracked up the cop who had just pulled her over and helped her avoid a speeding ticket.
You never know what great conversations will bloom.
And ... if you're really proactive, grab a recorder or hit the video record button on your phone. These memories are treasures your family will love more and more as the years go by.
-
Stocks Rise to End a Volatile Week: Stock Market TodayThe market's fear index reached and retreated from a six-month intraday peak on Friday as stocks closed the week well.
-
Kiplinger News Quiz, Oct 17 — Longest Government Shutdown?Quiz We covered stories about the shutdown, Medicare and vehicle recalls this week, but why? Test yourself on the latest financial and business news.
-
Treat Home Equity Like Other Investments in Your Retirement Plan: Look at Its Track RecordHomeowners who are considering using home equity in their retirement plan can analyze it like they do their other investments. Here's how.
-
Why Does It Take Insurers So Darn Long to Pay Claims? An Insurance Expert ExplainsThe process of verification, investigation and cost assessment after a loss is complex and goes beyond simply cutting a check.
-
Two Reasons to Consider Deferred Compensation in the Wake of the OBBB, From a Financial PlannerDeferred compensation plans let you potentially lower your current taxes and help to keep you out of a higher tax bracket. It's important to consider the risks.
-
Financial Fact vs Fiction: The Truth About Social Security Entitlement (and Reverse Mortgages' Bad Rap)Despite the 'entitlement' moniker, Social Security and Medicare are both benefits that workers earn. And reverse mortgages can be a strategic tool for certain people. Plus, we're setting the record straight on three other myths.
-
The End of 2%? An Investment Adviser's Case for Why the Fed Should Raise Its Inflation TargetYes, inflation can be tough on those living on fixed incomes, but protecting us from it too strictly could do our overall economy more harm than good.
-
Medicare Open Enrollment: Why You Need to Pay Extra Attention to Part D, From a Financial AdviserThe lowest premium for prescription drug coverage might not actually save you the most money. Make sure you take copays into consideration and do the math.
-
How the One Big Beautiful Bill Will Change Charitable GivingTaxpayers who don't itemize will be able to take a bigger deduction for donations, which could boost giving. However, high-income donors could see their tax benefits reduced.
-
A 'Fast, Fair and Friendly' Fail: Farmers Irks Customers With Its Handling of a Data BreachFarmers Insurance is facing negative attention and lawsuits because of a three-month delay in notifying 1.1 million policyholders about a data breach. Here's what you can do if you're affected.
