Study Shows Inherited Wealth Is Squandered

A new and unfortunate statistic confirms what we all intuitively suspected. According to research out of The Williams Group, 70% of all wealth transfers fail.

As reported by Forbes here, the failure is not that the money doesn’t get passed down; it is that the family inheritance quickly dissolves in a flash of poor planning, bickering, and waste.

How can that be?

The research found that the successful 30% had all actively engaged in transition planning, in addition to simple inheritance planning. In a very real sense, all proper estate planning is about both planning for the inheritance and planning for the inheritors. After all, the inheritors are why you want to pass on your assets in the first place. Naturally, then, transition planning is all about bringing the inheritors into the fold and allowing them to learn how to run it.

If you have a family business, then this is of the utmost importance. Why? Because for it to remain a “family business” the family has to know about the business, how to run it, and how to think about it. To be successful, hands-on training is required.

But then again, aside from a family business asset, there is still a great deal of work to be done to help inheritors properly understand wealth and investments. Likewise, hands-on training in the family wealth, perhaps beginning in philanthropy, can make all the difference.

In the end, to overcome the odds against the successful transfer of your family wealth, you need to form a plan, understand it, and to put it into action. Proper planning starts with a thorough understanding of your needs, goals, dreams and aspirations. It takes into account your Values not just your Valuables. It starts with a thorough understanding of your family – those who you care about and who will someday receive the benefits of your success – and your family’s dynamics. At Idaho Estate Planning we know how to help you implement and carry out a successful plan. Remember, good planning is no accident.

Idaho Estate Planning

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