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The Wealthy Have a Plan For Their Kids—Do You?

Shawn Smith • December 20, 2024

Ever wonder why the rich keep getting richer while so many families struggle to get ahead? It’s not just about having more money—it’s about how they manage it. Wealthy families use a secret weapon: estate planning. This powerful tool ensures their children use their inheritance to build wealth, not squander it. 


How the Wealthy Stay Wealthy


Wealthy families know the value of estate planning. They work with lawyers to set up trusts that ensure their children have a financial head start. These trusts: 

 

  • Protect the money from being lost to lawsuits, divorce, or poor financial decisions. 
  • Provide guidance on how the money can be used—like education, starting a business, or buying a home. 
  • Help the inheritance grow instead of being drained. 


Take William and Wendy, for example. They are leaving their children, Wally and Winnie, $100,000 in cash, and want them to use it wisely. With the help of a lawyer, they set up a trust, naming a family friend as the trustee. Winnie uses her share to start a thriving business, while Wally invests his and lives comfortably off the interest.
The trust acts like guardrails, ensuring the inheritance doesn’t just last—it grows. 


The Cost of Doing Nothing  


Now let’s look at Mike and Michelle, who also have $100,000 to leave their children. Believing estate planning is “just for the rich,” they skip meeting with a lawyer. When they pass away,
their children, Mark and Misty, each inherit $50,000 with no strings attached—and promptly spend it on vacations and takeout.  


Fast forward 25 years: Wally and Winnie are thriving, reaping the benefits of their parents’ careful planning. Meanwhile, Mark and Misty are struggling financially, their inheritance long gone. The difference is not that Wally and Winnie inherited more money. The difference is
their parents set them up for success by putting the inheritance in a trust. 


Start Today


We help all families of all walks of life set their children up for success.
Start by booking a Peace of Mind Planning Session. We’ll answer your questions and present your options. Then, if we decide we’re a good fit to work together, we’ll discuss next steps. The session is normally $275; mention this article and we’ll waive the fee! BOOK HERE!

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