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Few Americans expect to get inheritance despite wealth transfer hype
Research cited by Yahoo Finance says Gen Z and boomers differ sharply on planned inheritance expectations, even as many respondents say inheritances are key to long term financial security.
Yahoo Finance, citing 2024 research from Northwestern Mutual, argues that the widely discussed “Great Wealth Transfer” is unlikely to benefit most Americans. The article says 38% of Gen Z respondents expect to receive an inheritance, while only 22% of boomers plan to leave one behind.
The piece adds that the mismatch is more concerning because half of survey respondents also said an inheritance would be critical for long term financial security. It frames the gap as a reason for people to focus on building wealth without relying on inheritances.
Yahoo Finance also ties the issue to inflation and rising costs, noting that in 2025 consumer prices were 3.0% higher year over year, which it says is 1.0% above the Federal Reserve’s 2.0% target. It says cash can lose purchasing power unless placed “in the right place,” and encourages using appropriate strategies for emergency savings and interest.
In that context, the article recommends keeping several months of expenses in emergency funds and using higher yielding savings options to earn interest while still maintaining access to withdrawals. It does not provide investment performance claims or specific product pricing details beyond that general approach.