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I came to one important realization at France’s Cannes Lions Festival this week as I watched Nvidia (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), and Apple (AAPL) duke it out for the most valuable company on our stellar app.
Similar to most millennials, I have no clue about the wealth of my baby boomer parents. Like, zero idea. None. Zilch. Nada.
Now I suspect neither own the surging shares of Apple or Nvidia (I don’t think stocks have ever been their thing), but I fancy other baby boomer parents do, and may very well hold on to their positions until they die.
What should a millennial do with these lucrative positions? How do they get into their parents’ trading and investment accounts? Have our parents thought all these things through? What exactly do I need to know about their wealth today?
The generational transfer of wealth from boomers to their millennial offspring is starting — so prep now, JPMorgan’s chief marketing officer Carla Hassan reminded Rachelle Akuffo and me at Cannes Lions.
“It’s completely uncomfortable. It’s also intimidating,” Hassan said of the money conversations between boomers and millennials.
To start, JPMorgan offers up a good template on how to think through planning for generational wealth transfers here.
The impact of generational wealth transfer on markets and the economy in the decades ahead should not be understated.
Cerulli Associates estimates that wealth transferred through 2045 will tally a staggering $84.4 trillion. Broken down, that consists of $72.6 trillion that will be transferred to heirs, while $11.9 trillion will be donated to charities.
More than $53 trillion will be passed down from baby boomer households, representing 63% of all transfers.
“Family money conversations can be emotional and fraught (as the buzzword of the day seems to be), but they don’t have to be, especially if everyone is on the same playing field,” Yahoo Finance’s personal finance and retirement expert Kerry Hannon told me.
“It can even start with talking about special objects that your parents have that are meaningful to you, say, a grandfather clock that has been passed down for generations, or a certain painting you know they bought in Paris on a trip when they were newly married.”
Take me.
In my brain, I have sketched out the case that my parents will be around forever and there is no need to have The Talk. I also remember getting yelled at by my dad when I asked for an allowance — so somewhere in my head that is an emotional blocker.
I also have no idea where to find anything of importance for them should something happen. I don’t even know where my dad lives in Florida — haven’t seen him since he moved there more than five years ago! My mom lives five miles from me, but I still have to knock on her door to enter the house — no key!
Kerry’s advice is something to keep in mind as I work on that starter conversation with Mom and Dad.
But as they say, it’s a two-way street!
“More and more clients are opting to make wealth transfers to their children while they are living instead of waiting until they pass, because they can enjoy seeing the impact of their gifts when the kids need it most,” said Hemington Wealth Management founder and CEO Eileen O’Connor.
The clock is ticking.
Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance’s Executive Editor. He is also the host of the “Opening Bid” podcast. Follow Sozzi on Twitter/X @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn. Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations, or anything else? Email [email protected]. Are you a CEO and want to come on Yahoo Finance Live? Email Brian Sozzi.
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