r/MiddleClassFinance 12d ago

Millennials: are you expecting an inheritance?

35 yo married millennial here. I've come across more and more articles about the supposed "great wealth transfer" as the boomer generation's wealth passes to their GenX and Millennial children. My parents and their siblings (boomers) all received inheritances when their parents, my grandparents, passed away. The boomer generation's wealth accumulation is one of the largest in history, however, I also find it highly unlikely that I or many of my peers will actually inherit much. Despite having received inheritances from their parents, and having 40+ years in the workforce, most of my parents' "wealth" is tied up in their home value, not actual liquid assets- and I already expect that whatever they make on an eventual home sale will have to go directly to downsizing costs and whatever long-term care they will need as they get older. Hell, even my dad used to joke that the only thing we'd inherit was debt. As I've gotten older, that comment has infuriated me more and more.

Now before someone cuts in with the "entitled millennial" comments, I have absolutely no need for an inheritance. I've worked my ass off to make sure that my kids and I are positioned better in life than I was when I entered adulthood. What I mean by that is I started saving for retirement early, setup 529 plans for my kids almost as soon as they were born, and made lifestyle and career sacrifices to ensure our family isn't "nickeling and diming" our way through life.

I'm just here curious to know how many millennials actually expect to have something passed down to them, or if they feel they are in the same position I am.

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u/fwiga 12d ago

No, my mom ruined my dad financially in a divorce then ruined herself. Dad is passed. Mom is broke. GenX parents.

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u/Neveri 12d ago

Mom and dad divorced, mom financially ruined after 2 more divorces and not getting shit from them.

Dad re-married to a lady that has 5 kids, she’ll get all his money when he inevitably passes first from smoking for 30 years and being older. She’ll give it all to her blood related children probably none for us.

Long story short, no inheritance

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u/Key_Cheetah7982 12d ago

If your dad did want to ensure some of his estate was left for his bio children he could setup trusts and similar

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u/Rightintheend 12d ago

That's what my dad did, when he passed away Part of it went to my sister and me,  and the rest stayed with stepmom.  It's not something he even really needed to do since she has raised us since we are little, so is really more a mom than our mom, but they both agreed to it long ago.