Purpose Over Waiting: Resilient Planning in the Era of the Great Wealth Transfer
By Lauren Tschider — resilience keynote speaker, mental health speaker, financial advisor, and author
January 15th, 2026
We are living through one of the most significant financial shifts in modern history. Often referred to as the Great Wealth Transfer, trillions of dollars are expected to flow from older to younger generations over the coming decades. While the numbers are staggering, the real impact of this transfer won’t be determined by how much wealth changes hands — but by how intentionally families prepare for it.
Too often, wealth transfer conversations focus solely on assets, timelines, or tax efficiency. Those elements matter, but they are not enough. True generational planning requires purpose, awareness, sound decision-making, and resilience — long before any inheritance ever occurs.
Purpose Comes Before the Money
Wealth without purpose is fragile. When families define why wealth exists — whether to support education, create opportunity, give generously, or provide long-term stability — financial decisions become grounded rather than reactive. They also become much more relational and meaning-filled than transactional.
Younger generations today often want their money to reflect their values, not just grow in isolation. Purpose gives wealth direction. Ex.) I want to start a business in 10 years, so I will make wise choices today accomplish this goal. This transforms inheritance from a passive event into an intentional responsibility - parents can actively help their children live their dreams. Without that clarity, money can easily become a source of tension, confusion, or drift. Without conversations among families and with trusted advisors, the true purpose of generational planning and legacy can be lost. In the United States, on average, it takes 18 months to blow through an inheritance - do we think this is always being used as it was intended to be used? The answer is likely no.
Awareness Requires Conversation
One of the most common breakdowns in generational planning is silence. Parents often assume conversations about money will create entitlement or discomfort. Children and young adults, sensing that discomfort, avoid asking questions altogether.
But awareness is built through communication. Parents have a responsibility to help their children understand not just what may be passed down someday, but how and why decisions are being made. That doesn’t mean disclosing every number — it means offering context, values, and expectations.
Likewise, adult children benefit from asking thoughtful questions and engaging early. Inheritance should never arrive without understanding. When conversations happen proactively, families replace uncertainty with trust.
Sound Decisions Can’t Wait
A critical — and often overlooked — piece of the Great Wealth Transfer conversation is this: you cannot build resilient generational wealth by waiting for it.
For young adults, relying on a future inheritance as a financial plan creates vulnerability. Life is unpredictable. Markets change. Timelines shift. Long-term care events can deplete funds. The healthiest approach is to make sound financial decisions now — building independence, confidence, and stability regardless of what may come later.
When individuals plan well early in their careers and adult lives, any future inheritance becomes an enhancement rather than a lifeline. That’s when wealth can truly support generational planning rather than create dependence.
For parents, this distinction matters deeply. Helping children learn how to manage money responsibly before wealth is transferred strengthens outcomes for everyone involved.
Conversations Create Resilience
Avoiding conversations doesn’t protect families — it weakens them. Resilient families talk about expectations, responsibility, and stewardship before pressure forces the discussion.
These conversations don’t need to be perfect or one-time events. They evolve over the years. What matters most is creating space for honesty, questions, and shared understanding. When families talk openly, they reduce conflict, align their values, and prepare emotionally and financially.
The Role of a Financial Professional
Navigating generational planning alone is rarely effective. Emotions, assumptions, and generational differences can cloud even the best intentions. Working with a trusted financial professional creates structure, clarity, and neutrality.
A good advisor helps families:
Align financial strategy with shared values.
Balance independence with future planning.
Facilitate productive conversations.
Prepare both generations for responsibility, not reliance.
Resilient planning is not about control — it’s about guidance. It’s about equipping families with tools and perspective so wealth becomes a source of stability rather than stress.
Generational Planning Is a Long Game
The Great Wealth Transfer is not a moment; it’s a process. Families who approach it thoughtfully understand that wealth is only one part of the legacy being passed down. Character, communication, and preparation matter just as much.
Purpose gives direction. Awareness builds understanding. Sound decision-making creates independence. Conversations foster trust. And professional guidance provides structure.
When these elements work together, wealth transfer becomes more than inheritance — it becomes resilient generational planning.
And that is where true legacy lives.