Where Are You in Your Family's Legacy?
Answer a few plain questions and see where you stand between the people who came before you and the people who come after.
Two minutes, no dollar figures. Find your place in your family's chain and the stage of life the book would put you in.
The questions
- What brought you here today?
- Getting started
- Building up what I have
- Protecting what I have
- Passing something on to the next generation
- Teaching the next generation about money
- Settling or sorting out an estate
- I am just curious
- Which of these sounds most like where you are right now?
- I am just getting started. Time is the main thing on my side.
- I am building. I am earning, saving and carrying real responsibilities.
- I have built something, and I am more focused on keeping it safe as life after work comes into view.
- I am looking after what I have and thinking about passing it on and teaching the people who come next.
- None of these quite fits
- Do you have children?
- No
- Yes, all under 18
- Yes, all 18 or older
- Yes, some under 18 and some 18 or older
- I would rather not say
- Are any of your children between 8 and 17?
- Yes, 8 to 12
- Yes, 13 to 17
- Yes, in both groups
- No, all are under 8
- Do you have grandchildren?
- No
- Yes, all under 18
- Yes, all 18 or older
- Yes, some under 18 and some 18 or older
- I would rather not say
- Are any of your grandchildren between 8 and 17?
- Yes, 8 to 12
- Yes, 13 to 17
- Yes, in both groups
- No, all are under 8
- Has anything been passed down to you from the generation before you, or do you expect that it will be?
- Yes, something already has
- Some already has, and more is likely
- Not yet, but I expect it someday
- No, and I do not expect it
- I am not sure
- I would rather not say
- Which is closest to what you have today?
- Gold or silver I bought myself
- A coin collection I built myself
- Both of those
- Pieces that were passed down or given to me
- Pieces that were passed down to me that I have not sorted out yet
- Nothing yet, but I am thinking about it
- Nothing, and I have no plans to
- I would rather not say
- Does someone you trust know what you have and how to find it?
- It is written down, and we have talked about it
- It is written down, but we have not talked about it
- We have talked about it, but nothing is in writing
- Not yet
- I would rather not say
- When you ask yourself how much is enough, which answer is closest?
- Enough to cover the basics for a set number of months
- Enough to leave something to each person who comes after me
- A set share of everything I have
- A steady share of what I earn, set aside year after year
- I already have enough. My question is what to do with it.
- I have never really thought about it
- Are you planning a gift for a child or grandchild in the next few months?
- Yes, for a birthday
- Yes, for a holiday
- Yes, for a graduation or another milestone
- Yes, for no particular occasion
- I am not sure yet
- Not right now
- Which age group are you in?
- 25 or younger
- 26 to 40
- 41 to 50
- 51 to 60
- 61 to 70
- 71 or older
- I would rather not say