Consider Giving Your Money Away Now: Shootin' It Straight With Stan

Most people work their entire lives, save diligently, and build wealth over decades. Then one day they stop and ask a simple question. What should happen to this money?

Traditionally, families wait. Parents pass away, the will is read, and the money is distributed. But for many families, that money arrives long after it was actually needed. That reality is what led me to start thinking differently about giving money away before death.

Key Takeaways

Many heirs need financial help earlier in life, not later
Lifestyle often does not change much even as wealth grows
Gifting while alive can have more impact than inheritances
Estate planning and gifting should be coordinated carefully
Legacy is about timing, not just transfer of money

Why Waiting Until Death May Not Make Sense

In many families, inheritances arrive when children are already in their 50s or 60s. By then, careers are established and major life expenses have already passed.

The years when help matters most are often much earlier. Starting a family. Buying a home. Raising kids. Those are the years when financial support can truly change outcomes.

My Personal Experience With Timing

I grew up in rural North Carolina. There was no extra money. You worked, you struggled, and you waited.

My wife and I built what we have over decades. When I ran the numbers, it became clear we were never going to spend all of it. That realization changed the conversation. Instead of asking what happens when we die, we started asking why wait at all.

Helping When It Matters Most

My daughters are in their twenties. That is the phase of life where money is tight and decisions are expensive.

Rather than letting them struggle while waiting for an inheritance decades from now, we made the decision to start helping now. That does not mean there is no planning for later. There is. But it means they do not have to struggle unnecessarily today.

Character, Struggle, and Reality

Some people believe struggle builds character. Maybe it does.

But if you can help your children avoid unnecessary hardship without harming your own security, that is worth considering. I did not enjoy struggling. I learned from it, but I would not choose it again if I had the option.

Coordinating Gifting With Estate Planning

These decisions should never be made casually. I am working with an estate planning attorney and I encourage you to do the same.

There are gifting rules. Those rules change. There are tax considerations. Those matter. This is not about reacting emotionally. It is about planning intentionally.

Establishing a Family Legacy While Alive

Legacy is not just what happens after death. Legacy is also what you model while you are alive.

Helping family when they need it can become part of a broader family philosophy. It sets expectations. It creates continuity. It teaches responsibility rather than entitlement.

Final Thoughts on Giving Money Away Early

This is not about being anti inheritance or anti annuity. It is about timing.

For some families, waiting feels right. For others, helping earlier may make more sense. The important thing is that you think about it intentionally and discuss it openly with your spouse and advisors.

If you are thinking about gifting strategies, lifetime income planning, or how annuities fit into estate planning, schedule a conversation with The Annuity Man team. We work alongside estate planning attorneys and tax professionals to help you evaluate these decisions carefully.