The Best Inheritance: Family Values and History

The Best Inheritance: Family Values and History

According to the recent study titled 2012 Allianz Life American Legacies Pulse Study which focused on surveying those between the ages of 47 and 66, and 72 and older – family values and traditions along with history still mean more to these groups than money when discussing an inheritance. Both groups had a response rate of over 70% agreeing that family stories and life lessons were ultimately the most important part of a family’s legacy.
Interestingly, only four percent of the baby boomer generation, between 47 and 66 years old, felt that they were owed an inheritance by their parents, and only 14% of the generation that was 72 and older felt that they should try to leave a monetary inheritance for their children. These low numbers may be due to concerns about living expenses and the loss of their retirement savings due to market values dropping.
Although the size of the monetary inheritance is of no importance, the planning for that fiscal inheritance is. Over 80% of both groups were adamant that instructions should be in place in case a parent were to become ill or incapacitated. Both groups were specific about not wanting there to be family conflicts over estate issues, and younger family members were of the belief that keeping family possessions in the family was highly important.
Roughly three quarters of the group over 72 had obtained estate planning assistance, and were adamant about impressing upon their children the importance of doing so. Many of them had already initiated end-of-life and inheritance conversations. However, only half of the baby boomer generation interviewed had planned their estate, and even less had initiated these conversations with their own children. It’s likely this related to this group being less frugal than the older generation, or simply feeling they have more than adequate time to plan.
The best choice you can make regarding estate planning is to sit down with your parents and discuss it with them – you’ll want to do so right away, before illness or age begin to take their toll. Call The Law Center today at 303-991-5200 and schedule your consultation today, let us help you smooth the process of estate planning!
* 2012 Allianz Life American Legacies Pulse Study, sponsored by Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North American, surveyed 1,000 “boomers” (age 44-67) and 1,007 “elders” (age 72+). The online survey was conducted January 12-19, 2012. For more information about the survey, go to https://www.allianzlife.com/about/news_and_events/news_releases.aspx?articleID=106

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