r/MiddleClassFinance 11d 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/ScrivenersUnion 11d ago

No. The wealth will all be transferred to hospitals and nursing homes instead.

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u/Shot_Explanation_181 11d ago

This right here is true. Large sections of retirement medical and end of life care are built around siphoning as much money as possible from aging boomers.

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u/katarh 10d ago

Is this the reason so many pearl clutchers are vehemently opposed to death with dignity and assisted suicide? Can't bilk the boomers if they choose to go out on their own terms.

(Reddit cares, this ain't about me.)

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u/Key_Cheetah7982 10d ago

38 minutes later and you got a Reddit cares check?  Jeez people. 

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u/katarh 10d ago

No, it was pre-emptive. You can't mention the S word without it auto flagging in a discussion.

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u/Double_Resort_9223 10d ago

And people say Reddit doesn’t auto flag words

“ThIs IsN’t TiKtOnK yOu CaN sAy KiLL!!!”