You probably know (but may not have given much thought to) the most important inheritance you
provide. It's so much more than the money you’ll leave behind, but involves your values, insights, stories, and experience. While those things are a part of your everyday interactions by happenstance, intentionally creating a Family Wealth Legacy requires more than happenstance. If you choose, we can support you in creating your own Family Wealth Legacy Interview.
We invite you to ask your mother, father, grandparents and other loved ones the 32 important questions below that can teach you valuable lessons about love, life, and what matters most. And don’t just ask them, record their answers to create your own Family Wealth Legacy.
Use these questions as a springboard and an engaging activity during the holidays and discover what you didn’t know about your loved ones:
1. What comes to mind when you think about growing up in your hometown?
2. What did you love to do as a kid, before high school?
3. What did you love to do in high school?
4. What do you remember most about your teenage years?
5. What do you remember most about your mom (grandma)?
6. What was most important to her?
7. What do you remember most about your dad (grandpa)?
8. What was most important to him?
9. If Grandma and Grandpa had a message to pass along to the grandchildren, what would it be?
10. How did you meet your spouse? How did you know (s)he was the one?
11. How did you choose your career? What was your favorite part about it?
12. What made you successful?
13. What did you believe about yourself that helped you become successful and deal with hard times?
14. What times in your life truly “tested your mettle,” and what did you learn about yourself by dealing (or not dealing) with them?
15. What three events most shaped your life?
16. What do you remember about when I was born?
17. Were you ever scared to be a parent?
18. What three words would you say represented your approach to parenting and why?
19. When you think about [sibling] how would you describe him/her?
20. What message do you have for [sibling] that you want him/her to always keep in mind?
[Do the last two questions above for each sibling in your family]
21. When you think about [spouse], how would you describe her/him?
22. What message do you have for [spouse] that you want her/him to always keep in mind?
23. What three words would you say best describe who you tried to be in life? How would you like to be remembered?
24. What do you think your children and grandchildren should focus on professionally?
25. What have you learned about people in life?
26. What do you think the world needs more of right now?
27. What do you believe people want the most in life?
28. What were the three best decisions you ever made?
29. What are you most proud of?
30. What were five of the most memorable moments of your life?
31. What message would you like to share with your family?
32. What are you most thankful for?
These questions can reveal a wealth of treasured family history so it's not lost for the next generations. But having this conversation is just a start. There are ways to preserve and protect these cherished assets beyond the financial things of value. Of course, you should create a comprehensive estate plan that will safeguard your financial intentions. But you can also include a recorded Family Wealth Legacy Interview, which becomes a priceless family legacy piece for your loved ones. When estate planning is done right, it’s really Life and Legacy Planning.
At Rayboun Winegardner, we can guide you to create a comprehensive estate plan, a Life and Legacy Plan, and can address more than just your financial “estate.” Before the session, we will send you a Family Wealth Inventory and Assessment that will get you thinking about what you own, what matters most to you, and what you want to leave behind. Contact us today to schedule your Family Wealth Planning Session.
This article is a service of Rayboun Winegardner. We don’t just draft documents, we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. Begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.
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