Having been a child of immigrants after WW2, I have no immediate family left. No kids either. So, spouse will get it all if I go first, but if that’s not possible, then will most likely try to find some well deserving folks with younger family to preserve what collection I might have left before I kick the bucket. Other than that, up in the air.

Basically , my Will states that whatever is left goes to my wife . If she's gone then all assets are to be divided between my two sons . I plan on selling my coin collection soon , so that will not remain . My gun collection has been thinned out over the years . They can divide that up as well . I haven't had to draw on my 401k yet but I'm not saving it for anybody . If the time comes that we need it then we'll start taking distributions . I have no problem spending their inheritance .

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I'm 2 or 3 years away from retirement, never married or had any kids. My brother has a daughter and two granddaughters, one of whom is fairly severely autistic. My sister has a daughter and a son and now two grandkids. For a while I figured I would split whatever assets are left when I croak between my nieces and nephew. By then that will include whatever house I'm living in, the rest of my belongings and whatever is left of my retirement savings. Guns & ammo and NFA toys are another matter as I'm really the only gun guy in the family, I still need to figure that out.

But lately there's been kind of a split. My sister and her whole family have pretty much disowned me, asked me not to show up at family gatherings, on account of my refusal to take the Covid jab. My brother's daughter on the other hand, still likes me. She and her husband and kids are living in a mobile home. So at this point I'm leaning toward leaving the house and most of the rest of my estate to her, except for probably a pair of cash donations to a particular emergency vet hospital that saved the life of my dog a number of years back and to the ASPCA.

I got two kids who are both better than I am, and they should enter adulthood debt free with a little extra cash in the bank. How they choose to use that is up to them but I believe that with them, I’ve left the world a slightly better place.

Professionally I believe that I have done my best for every employer I have ever worked for, and every employee who has worked for me.

The only thing I was able to really teach my kids is how to manage money, and the two daughters are about my wife and I's only relatives. I'd like to spend wildly for a few years, but there's nothing left I want, really. The safe is jam packed. I have 25 full 8 foot book cases. (Great insulation, and will probably stop bullets.) Both kids are more than solvent, as engineers I don't have to worry. Some in trust for the grandkids, I guess, but beyond that I'm clueless. Maybe in a few years I'll buy a piece of land and set up a gun range. My broker says we should be living it up, she doesn't get that we ARE. Heck, a nice house, three squares and a cat are about all it takes to keep me happy.

I really don't know. I fear that we will have to sell most all we have acquired to fund our health issues as we race to the grave. We both know we're on limited time.

Would like to leave them each a house if possible. Neither are into guns, so I think I think they could sell them and the ammo off. Who knows, maybe they have men that are by then. Both have dated guys that were impressed with mine.

I also have a lot of equipment that could be sold off when I'm gone, hopefully!

We only live, hope, and pray for our kids to have a personal, genuine faith, all of their own, in Jesus Christ. We invest our time and other resources heavily in this, with my wife (who was a nurse before we married) staying home to raise and school them, etc. Everything else is just a temporary distraction; a saving and empowering faith in the God of the Bible is our legacy.

I have given this some thought too since I am getting older. I will leave my kid just enough $$$ to pay for my final expenses and give him a little bit of cash. Whatever things I have that interest him he is free to have, and he can sell the rest.
The only lasting legacy I leave with him will be memories.

I spent my working life in the Trusts and Estates Division in a bank. One of my early bosses, the division manager told me one day over lunch that the best estate plan was "spend your last nickel on your last beer."

Based on the many dozens of estates I have either managed, overseen or advised on, he is closer to right than wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Write down everything you know, and what you have learned of all your family, the good, the bad.

Yes, someone will get twisted knickers, but they can come and yell at your grave.

All the material stuff will go away, but the stories and the information cannot be given a dollar value.


I much enjoyed what little you wrote...

listen to the Monkey


my mother got a wild hair or an epiphany, years ago when her aunts and uncles started passing,

she had most of a family tree done, but wanted some family history, so she started visiting all the older folks in the family she could still find, and got a lot of oral history,

she had a box of old photo's and was able to find out who some of the folks that had been forgotten to time were,

My kids. Without a doubt.

I have three wonderful kids. They were raised like I was. They all have respect, and were raised “right”. One is a bank Vice President at 25 years old. One is a senior in college who already has a good paying job without it at 21. And the youngest? He is entering his second week of selection and assessment to become a reconnaissance Marine. He joined the marines at 17 after graduating high school a year early.

They all have great heads on their shoulders and are ready great members of society.

That’s my legacy. And I am happy with it.

Have no blood children. Grandchildren have two idiot, BLM, loving parents. I thought I would leave things to them, but I refuse to fund that stupidity and it goes against everything I believe. Hope I don't die soon as I have no idea.

I grew up in a farming family. The goal was to build and improve what you were given and leave the next generation better off than you started. Bought the ranch and have spent the last almost twenty two years building it.

Almost twenty years ago the eldest came along, followed by his sister. The ranch has been a great place to raise the kids and teach them about life. They’ve learned to operate equipment, handle livestock, work, and be good humans. Well, and shoot.

The ranch may or may not end up being part of a legacy. The kids definitely will and I’m happy about that.