“My parents left me nothing, and [mes enfants] won’t have anything either. They’ll work it out. This is one of the phrases I hear in my practice that I find most difficult to understand. Even if I totally respect the opinion of the people who formulate it, the fact remains that this sentence contradicts my values, prompting me to reflect very often on its scope and meaning.
Perhaps it is a professional deformation, but I dream, personally, of leaving as much as possible to my children! Of course, it is always possible to “get by”; many of us have done it.
However, without wanting to fall into fear or tragedy, we can never be certain that future generations will benefit from the socio-economic conditions that we have had the privilege of experiencing.
Maybe it’s my maternal instinct, maybe it’s my sense of guilt for having brought human beings into the world on a planet with an uncertain future, but I have this strong desire to protect those who will come. after me.
The planet first
Don’t make a big fuss about it! I already know that it is useless to leave a jackpot to our children if the survival of our beautiful Earth is not assured! What will our grandchildren do with all these millions if they can no longer feed themselves?
In addition to dealing with estate planning, we currently have the power, as investors, to shape the current and future economy by prioritizing sectors of the green and sustainable economy, by choosing investment solutions that integrate ESG analysis (environmental, social and governance).
Beyond all that, in a context tending more and more towards a polarization of world economies and a transformation of trade relations, we, as consumers, have the power to support the local economy as a priority.
Not easy, you will tell me, especially when you are suffering the effects of the current inflation. Making the choice to consume less, but “better”, remains an individual choice. Protecting future generations is therefore not limited to optimizing your estate balance sheet and modifying your
will.
Planning does not mean depriving yourself
A little-known element of estate planning is that the strategies that make it up are not intended to deprive you while you are alive in order to leave more when you die! Rather, the approach allows for the assessment, once all of your personal goals have been achieved, of your net worth and projected estate cash flow at life expectancy.
Based on the desired cost of living during your lifetime, optimization strategies can be applied to structure the wealth already in place differently.
If you hold an investment portfolio that is not registered or held through a company, it is for example possible to use permanent insurance, with a view to diversifying assets, and at the same time improving the liquidity available. for the estate at the time of death. The strategies are numerous, and integrated financial planning offers the investor the possibility of choosing them even before reviewing this famous will, which would often benefit from being reviewed when moving to the
retirement.
In short, enjoy while alive, but die with peace of mind. If you’ve worked hard all your life, far be it from me to convince you not to take full advantage of it. But if you had the immense privilege of being able to
both ?
The first generation sacrificed
When we approach the notion of optimizing the estate, many respond that, in any case, if they die at their life expectancy, their children will already be very old and will no longer need this money. Back to my wish.
When I die, at 120 (I’m very fit…and optimistic!), my boys will already be ready to die, too! But I could leave more to my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren.
children and thus make every effort to protect several
generations.
This mentality is stronger in other cultures than here in Quebec, but I am convinced that it can be transformed, the desire to succeed financially not being as taboo as in the past.
You don’t have an estate? With estate planning, it is also possible to foster foundations and charities. Each in their own way can certainly contribute to orchestrating a more clement future for those who will come after us.