As the United States faces a $124 trillion wealth transfer, EP Wealth advocates for timing gifts during life, highlighting how early generosity can amplify the impact of family wealth and align with values rather than merely tax strategies.
For many families, the central question in estate planning has long been who should inherit. EP Wealth argues that an equally important issue is when that transfer should happen. The firm’s Well Spent feature makes the case for “giving while living”, a philosophy best known through Chuck Feeney, the co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers, who donated more than $8 billion during his lifetime and spent years trying to see the effect of his generosity firsthand.
That idea is gaining relevance as the United States moves through what economists have called the Great Wealth Transfer. EP Wealth cites an estimated $124 trillion expected to change hands over the next two decades, and suggests that families are increasingly asking whether some of that money could do more good if it reached children or grandchildren earlier. A gift delivered at the right moment can help pay for education, support a first home purchase or steady a relative through a difficult period in ways a later inheritance cannot.
The timing point is especially powerful when life does not unfold neatly. EP Wealth notes that a well-timed transfer can be far more meaningful than the same sum received years earlier or much later. In one example, a parent helping an adult child through the early months of a new business could make the difference between survival and failure. In another, a family member starting over after divorce might need short-term support for rent or housing more than a future bequest.
The article also argues that the discussion is as much about values as it is about tax planning. According to EP Wealth, families often spend years on trusts, wills and beneficiary designations without ever talking about what they want their wealth to make possible. That conversation can raise difficult questions about fairness, especially when siblings are at different stages of life or have different caregiving responsibilities. But the firm says many families conclude that true fairness means meeting each person where they are, not dividing assets mechanically.
Education is one of the clearest examples of why timing matters. EP Wealth points to rising private college costs, now above $260,000 for a four-year degree, and notes that support delivered early can shape career choices and financial freedom. It also says 529 plans remain a popular vehicle for multigenerational gifting and that federal aid rules no longer penalise grandparent support, although some private colleges still ask about outside help. Beyond schooling, the same logic applies to a down payment or other milestone purchase: money given sooner can have decades to grow in value and meaning.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
