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Through 2048, an estimated $124 trillion in wealth is expected to pass from older to younger generations in the U.S. Additionally, $50 trillion will pass laterally to surviving spouses, the large majority of whom will be women, before making its way down to children. Known as the Great Wealth Transfer, it comes with responsibility for both the owners and inheritors of wealth. Here, five steps are outlined to help you and your family prepare for the change that also represents a shift in power with younger generations stepping into their financial strength.

If you’re not used to having conversations surrounding family wealth, it can be an uncomfortable experience that can lead to in-fighting and a breakdown in trust. That’s especially true when talking about inheritance: older generations often question if their kids are ready to grow into their roles as stewards of wealth, and younger generations often let inexperience and a fear of being judged keep them from asking important questions.

All parents have reasons for why they do or do not share their wealth with their children, and neither option is without challenges. The key for parents is to find the balance between sharing everything and sharing nothing while also passing along the skills required to ensure their children become responsible inheritors and/or beneficiaries. Here are some best practices for striking that balance without losing the opportunities that come with significant wealth.

For a variety of reasons, Americans tend to be reluctant to discuss the specifics of their wealth—especially with adult children. While there may be discomfort around talking about wealth, there are several good reasons and ways to have these critical conversations.

The creation of family wealth takes years of dedication, sacrifice, and hard work. To ensure that the hard-earned wealth is sustainable for generations, mentoring family members plays a key role in the successful transition of family wealth. Serving as an effective framework is the Family Wealth Mentoring Pyramid™ that incorporates five areas: Life Purpose, Wealth Theory, Wealth Operations, Communication Practices, and Wealth Governance.

Though being (or becoming) “rich" would seem to be a universal quest, the mixed experiences of those born into, married into, or suddenly rich undermine the fantasy that “rich equals “happy.” Sometimes the guilt, shame, and the complexity of growing up with abundance can create unwanted family dynamics that strain family relationships. In this educational and special webcast, Joline Godfrey (author of Raising Financially Fit Kids) joins Robin Petty at Hawthorn and dives deeper into the topic.