In a 2016 study, 26% out of 3,105 wealthy individuals surveyed had a complete estate-planning strategy to transfer their wealth to the next generation. Further, only 54% had created a will, but most had not updated them. As a result, $1.5 trillion of the $3.2 trillion is without direction as it falls into the hands of the next generation. Perhaps, the reason why people avoid preparing an estate plan is because they are not sure what they want to do with their wealth at some distant point in the future and a clearer picture of what heirs should receive will present itself at a later date. Another part of a solid estate plan is to communicate important facts so that the heirs are able to prepare for an inheritance. The sooner in life these conversations are expressed, the smoother the wealth transfers.
See Sonia Talati, Don’t Delay Planning Your Estate, Barron’s, February 10, 2017.
Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.
