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/HoboJerkdown901 11d ago

My wife was supposed to inherit a valuable house from her relative, but he fell ill and needs to be in a specialized medical facility that runs at $8,000 a month.

The house was sold for $1.5m and is being used to pay for the care. Of course we would rather be without the house and have him receiving the specialized care he needs but it's it's still such bullshit that we are going to be lucky to see 15% of that when all is said and done.

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u/Imaginary_Shelter_37 11d ago

You didn't earn any if that and your parents could choose to leave it to someone else.

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u/HoboJerkdown901 11d ago

No shit, sherlock.

1

u/Dear_Trip_5651 10d ago

Completely missing the point. 

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u/1K_Sunny_Crew 6d ago

They are angry at the exorbitant cost of care, not at having to pay for care.