WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE GREAT WEALTH TRANSFER?

When the Baby Boomers start passing away in greater numbers, the single greatest transfer of wealth in world history will occur, but the benefit might not all go to their heirs.

The Baby Boomer generation has in general amassed more wealth than any previous generation.  Since they cannot live forever and possibly may not spend everything they have, much of that wealth will be inherited by their children and grandchildren.

At least that is where most affluent Baby Boomers hope it will go.

The problem is that not enough people have taken the steps necessary to ensure that their wealth does pass as desired.

The Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog recently discussed this subject in "When Wills Become Wants".

The source of the problem is that a significant number of heirs and beneficiaries think the distribution of estates is unfair. That can be bad for an estate by itself, but it is made even worse by the fact that a significant number of parents have not discussed their estate plans with their children.

When a person first hears about an estate distribution after a family member passes away and believes that distribution to be unfair, then the main ingredients are present for a battle over the estate in court.

Estate litigation is very costly and can bleed an estate of much of its assets.

What that means is this: if Baby Boomers are not careful, then much of their great generational wealth will go to lawyers instead of their children.

Reference: Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (May 28, 2017) "When Wills Become Wants."