New research shows that although the $124 trillion wealth transfer is coming, how much that inheritance will be worth and who gets to manage it is up in the air.
Within the next generation, an estimated $124 trillion will change hands, according to Merrill Lynch.
According to a recent survey, 95% of Gen Z and millennials say they feel ready to manage generational wealth, and 56% want to know the dollar amount they’re likely to inherit. Yet Fidelity research cited in the ABA Banking Journal shows that 68% of Gen X and boomer parents have not confirmed with their children that there is any money coming, even though 70% have written a will and 35% say they do not plan to share inheritance details at all.
For younger adults trying to build a real financial plan, that mix of high expectations and limited information makes it harder to decide how much to save, how much to spend and how to invest without outside guidance from someone who can model different what if scenarios, like a financial advisor sourced through tools like SmartAsset’s matching platform.
69% of Millennials: Boomer Better Have My Money
It isn’t just those with little hope of leaving their kids with a windfall who aren’t talking about inheritance. Per the Family Wealth in America 2025 study, just 14% of adults have had detailed conversations about inheritance, and only 36% have ever mentioned wealth transfer to a family member. About 50% stated that they have had vague discussions about end-of-life planning—but that number doesn’t include coming up with an investment or wealth protection plan.
According to a recent study by Northwestern …
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