She knows it’s coming. Not today. Maybe not for years. But the topic comes up at holidays, when her parents make off-hand remarks like, “When we’re gone, and this house is yours...,” or “We set something aside for the grandkids.”
It feels like both a gift and a burden, and frankly, she’s not sure what to do with either.
Welcome to the life of the future inheritor—the most overlooked persona in the Great Wealth Transfer. She doesn’t have the check yet, but she knows it’s probably coming. And she’s quietly asking the right questions.
More than $84 trillion will change hands by 2045, flowing from Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation to their beneficiaries. An estimated $11.9 trillion will move by 2030, and a significant share of all these funds will go to daughters, nieces, and granddaughters who have never managed multi-generational wealth.
It’s not surprising, then, that UBS’s 2025 Own Your Worth report found most women expecting an inheritance feel under-informed, under-prepared, and at times, unable to even ask the right questions.
Future wealth is tricky. It often comes with unspoken expectations, vague timelines (“When Mom passes”), and deeply ingrained family and cultural messages to “not talk about money.”
Many women avoid estate conversations out of fear discussing the topic would make them seem greedy. Others broach the subject only to hear, “It’s all taken care of.” But silence is not a strategy. And waiting isn’t a plan.
Sooner or later, everyone dies. Quietly going along with the unspoken agreement to ignore that fact puts you at significant risk:
Living in a passive money narrative. When you expect money to arrive but don’t plan for it, you risk shaping your life around assumptions instead of intention.
Being left out of the decision room. If you’re not involved in your parents' estate planning conversations, you may miss key insights about their values, plans, or goals.
Inheriting complexity without context. Trusts, taxes, step-up basis, donor-advised funds—these and similar terms matter. Without appropriate financial education, even well-meaning heirs can make costly mistakes.
Meet Janelle, a 40-year-old marketing exec who knew her parents had “some things set up” but wasn’t aware of any details. Janelle’s father was a DIY investor, and her mother usually deferred to him. After her dad had a minor stroke, we helped Janelle:
Facilitate a family meeting with her parents and their estate attorney
Learn how their trust, real estate, and charitable plans worked
Align her own long-term plan to integrate the inheritance as a tool, not a crutch
Today, Janelle is co-trustee of the trust, engaged in family giving, and actively building her own wealth narrative that includes (but does not rely on) future funds.
Instead of walking into something you’re unprepared for, make an action plan that combines emotional intelligence with a rational, proactive approach.
Break the silence (kindly and gently). Start with questions like: “I’d love to understand the big picture so I can honor your wishes one day.” Remember, this isn’t about entitlement. It’s about stewardship.
Build your financial literacy before you need it. Learn the basics of estate structures, taxes, and trust language. When the time comes, you’ll thank yourself.
Create your own financial identity first. What do you want your life to stand for? What impact do you want to have, with or without the inheritance? Don’t wait for inherited money to define you.
Connect with a planning partner who gets it. A good advisor will help you blend education, tax strategy, and emotional readiness. It’s not too early to start.
Receiving wealth doesn’t make you lucky or unworthy. And planning for it doesn’t make you presumptuous—it makes you wise. After all, the next chapter of the Great Wealth Transfer will be written by women who lead with clarity, not confusion.
If you’re curious about how to prepare for a future inheritance—without waiting until you’re in crisis—our team at Artisan Financial Strategies is here to walk beside you. Connect with us today, because you deserve to feel ready when the money moves.
SOURCES:
UBS Own Your Worth 2025: Women and the Great Wealth Transfer, ubs.com/women
Cerulli Associates, U.S. Wealth Transfer Report, 2022
Merrill Private Wealth Management Women & Inheritance Survey, 2023