"Parents and grandparents should communicate the whats and whys of their will in a group setting, with all their children present, long before the will is read," says David Mullins, a planner in Richlands, Virginia.

That way, you can hash out any issues as a family beforehand. It is better than after the fact, when the patriarch or matriarch is not around to explain or make adjustments, and things devolve into all-out legal war.

"Trust me, siblings will find out who got what," says Mullins. "Without proper communication, this can destroy families."

 

Create A Roadmap

Almost one-quarter of baby boomers think their kids will not be able to handle wealth properly until the ripe age of 40. And almost half of wealthy individuals over 70 agree.

That is why you should give your heirs a financial roadmap in the form of a family mission statement, advises U.S. Trust. You can lay out what you expect in terms of spending, saving, and giving back, as well as pass along strategies for building wealth.

Stephen Lovell wishes his mother had that kind of roadmap.

"How did my mother blow it?" he says. "She just didn't know any better. And now we all live with that regret, every day."

 
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