The one thing millions of young Aussies want boomers to do right now

Almost half of Aussies expecting to inherit a loved one’s assets would rather receive them as a gift while they are still alive, according to a new survey.

Finder surveyed 1,062 people and found that 40 percent would choose to receive their inheritance sooner.

The new research revealed that 20 per cent believe they will receive more than $50,000, while 28 percent expect to inherit more than $100,000.

According to the same data, 21 per cent believe they will be left one property, while four per cent think they will inherit two properties.

But 27 per cent said they are ‘not sure’ what they will receive and 64 per cent said that they are not expecting an inheritance in the coming decades. 

This data comes less than a week after a Seer Data and Analytics study found that the average family in Rose Bay, Vaucluse and Watsons Bay, in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs, will pass down $3.75million to their kids. 

The average inheritance in Lindfield, Roseville, and other parts of the north shore was also more than $3million, news.com.au reported.

Personal finance expert at Finder, Sarah Megginson, said trillions of dollars worth of assets will be passed down to younger generations in years to come.

‘After decades of building up wealth, baby boomers are passing down trillions in savings and investments to their children and grandchildren,’ she said. 

‘In an era of surging home and stock values, it’s going to be the largest intergenerational wealth transfer the country has ever witnessed.’

The Productivity Commission estimated that senior citizens would transfer $3.5 trillion in wealth over the next 20 years, or an average of about $175 billion per year.

Ms Megginson said it is possible and in some cases, preferable to pass on your assets while you are still alive. 

‘An early inheritance lets the parent see their children or grandchildren enjoying the gift, and the financial windfall at a younger age gives them more opportunity to use it towards something that drastically improves their life, like a deposit on a home or investing it in education,’ she said. 

‘It’s not a decision that should be made without some serious consideration of your future financial needs and also the tax impacts.’

Ms Megginson urged Aussies to make sure they have a will to outline how they wish for their assets to be distributed and who is controlling the process. 

‘It’s always best to make those decisions upfront and with transparency, so relatives aren’t left with false expectations,’ she said.

‘For those expecting to be a beneficiary, it’s important to plan for how to make the most of the inheritance for generations to come.’  

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