A major expectations gap exists between what older generations plan to hand down and what younger generations expect to receive in the $90 trillion great wealth transfer, according to a new survey.
In the case of Millennials, the financial services giant Northwestern Mutual found 32% of the generation born between 1981 and 1996 expects to receive an inheritance.
However, only 22% of both Gen X and Boomers, a generation born between 1955 and 1980, plan on fulfilling their wishes.
Among the Millennials expecting to receive an inheritance, 59% say the anticipated wealth transfer is either highly critical or critical and that without the inheritance, they won’t “achieve long-term financial security or be able to retire comfortably.”
The survey says that this group of Millennials expects their inheritance to cover six percent of their overall retirement funding.
The expectations gap for Gen Z is even wider, according to the results.
“…Nearly four in ten (38%) expect to receive an inheritance (not counting the 6% who say they already have). But only 22% of Gen X and 28% of Millennials say they plan to leave a financial gift behind.”
About 54% of Gen Zers expecting to receive an inheritance also say it is critical to their long-term financial security and retirement, with this cohort expecting the anticipated inheritance to cover 10% of their overall retirement funding.
The Northwestern Mutual survey was conducted by The Harris Poll in January and involved 4,588 U.S. respondents aged 18 years and above.
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