Summer Legacy Conversations: Turning Family Gatherings into Meaningful Money Moments

Your adult children gather around your kitchen table after a family barbecue, and someone mentions how expensive everything has gotten — groceries, healthcare, housing. The conversation naturally shifts to concerns about the future.  

This is your moment — not for a formal financial presentation but for the kind of meaningful conversation that shapes how your family thinks about money and the legacy you’re building together.  

Summer brings families together in ways the rest of the year doesn’t always allow. These relaxed moments are perfect for the conversations that matter most, especially if you’ve been putting off important discussions about your family’s financial future. 

Families today are more willing than ever to talk about legacy — not just wealth but what kind of life they want to lead and what values they want to pass down.  

One study shares how “During the pandemic, we noticed that families seemed to be having more frequent conversations about wealth [with varying degrees of success], and these were often unplanned.”¹  

Families are focusing more on the qualitative aspects of legacy to ensure that wealth continues to serve, not distract, future generations. The ups and downs of recent years have prompted many to shift from asking, “How much do I leave?” to “What am I preparing my loved ones for?”

Meaning and understanding are cornerstone themes in legacy planning literature. In The Laws of Wealth, Daniel Crosby emphasizes that meaningful wealth transfer should be contextual, helping the next generation understand why they have money, not just how much.² Additionally, the authors of Complete Family Wealth explain that inheritance should be a source of meaning, not confusion or burden, and they encourage families to shift conversations from financial capital to human and intellectual capital.³ Finally, recent articles from the National Christian Foundation mirror these sentiments, warning that when families avoid legacy conversations, wealth can feel mysterious or disconnected rather than mission driven.⁴ 

If you want your family prepared for the future, capitalize on the shift in family money conversations and focus on these three discussions.

The most damaging mistake is thinking inheritance is only about money. Recall Crosby’s previously mentioned perspective from The Laws of Wealth — the circumstances around wealth matter.⁵

In other words, don’t just talk about what you have — share how you built it. Start with stories about tough times and lessons learned, or share what money meant to you growing up.  

If “money doesn’t grow on trees,” where did it grow from?  

In his book, The Opposite of Spoiled, Rob Lieber urges families to be intentional about early financial talk, saying, “Every conversation about money is also about values.”⁶  

A values-centric perspective should help you approach money conversations with more hope, not more pressure. In Complete Family Wealth, the authors emphasize that clarity of values and purpose is essential for long-term success across generations. They call this “100-year thinking,” a mindset that prioritizes stewardship over consumption.⁷ 

Value conversations are nuanced, however. Crosby observes in The Laws of Wealth that what may look like care can often function as control.⁸ How do you pass down values and influence loved ones without imposing your will? Successful families focus on what their wealth is for rather than dictating how others must spend it.  

The authors of Complete Family Wealth share that families who fixate on exact outcomes risk disempowering heirs. Instead, they should focus on transferring values, allowing space for heirs to make their own decisions guided by a shared purpose.⁹ This approach builds trust and helps your loved ones become wise stewards rather than resigned recipients. Remember, values outlive spreadsheets. 

Teaching financial responsibility means balancing security with independence. Entitlement often arises when heirs are excluded from meaningful conversations about stewardship.  

The experts emphasize being intentional and organized to prevent poor attitudes. In The Myth of the Silver Spoon, Kristin Keffeler says that affluence can breed a “helplessness” without guardrails. She advocates for setting clear structures to help next-gen family members discover their own vision of a fulfilling life, effectively countering passive entitlement.¹⁰ 

In another of his books, The Behavioral Investor, Daniel Crosby shares that gratitude and a sense of earned success, cultivated through intentional family engagement and service, are powerful antidotes to entitlement.¹¹ 

The advice to “talk about money” seems simple, but what happens if your family has never encouraged or even allowed financial conversations?  

When money has been taboo, refer to #1 above and begin with stories, not numbers. These moments invite deeper connection and open a path to further discussions.  

Try this: Ask children or grandkids what they think “being generous” means. This gentle approach opens doors to bigger conversations over time without making anyone defensive. Alternatively, ask older family members about their early financial memories or share what money meant to you growing up. 

As Viktor Frankl wrote, “What is to give light must endure burning.”¹² Meaningful change often requires some discomfort, but healing starts with being vulnerable enough to share.  

Legacy conversations don’t need boardroom formality. Some of the most meaningful discussions happen during everyday moments — around the dinner table, during a family walk, or while working in the garden together.  

The authors of Complete Family Wealth encourage families to create rituals and rhythms that make values visible and actionable, ensuring the next generation gains both clarity and meaningful participation in the legacy journey.¹³ 

The goal isn’t one perfect conversation but creating ongoing dialogue where family members feel comfortable discussing money, values, and dreams. Start small and stay consistent.

Consider these three small actions to encourage money and legacy conversations. 

1. Start having regular family meetings about values, stories, and goals — not just money. These conversations naturally connect to the values you live by, whether that’s the generosity you practice through your church or the responsibility you feel to help your adult children navigate their financial challenges.  
2. Create a family giving plan that involves everyone in charitable decisions. Even asking kids to suggest a cause for the family to donate to this summer can spark meaningful, memorable conversations about stewardship and purpose.  
3. Document your legacy by recording a video or writing down the values you want to pass along. Consider including practical wisdom about managing healthcare costs, supporting family members, and maintaining the lifestyle that matters to you.  

You can’t control market performance or economic uncertainty, but you can take charge of how you prepare your family for the future. 

What’s in your control:  

• Family conversations about what matters most to you   
• Sharing your story — how you built your financial foundation  
• Creating giving opportunities for the next generation to participate in charitable decisions  
• Clear communication about your intentions and values 
• Age-appropriate financial education as children grow   
• Healthcare planning discussions that protect your retirement and provide peace of mind   
• Working with an independent, fee-only advisory team that ensures continuity without Wall Street conflicts, focusing on what’s best for your family’s legacy rather than selling products. 

Your legacy matters too much to leave to chance. This summer, as your family gathers around picnic tables and vacation homes, you have opportunities to plant seeds that will grow for generations. The conversations you start today become the foundation for values and wisdom your family carries forward.  

Legacy planning goes far beyond managing investments. It requires a team-based approach that ensures your family’s important conversations and comprehensive planning continue seamlessly, giving you the security and continuity needed to maintain your standard of living while building something meaningful for future generations. 

What you can take charge of — your values, your story, your planning — matters more than what you can’t. The conversations you start this summer might just become the most foundational financial planning you ever do.  

At Credent, we help families navigate these important money conversations and create comprehensive plans that support their unique legacy goals. If you’re ready to move from conversation to action and discuss your family’s values and vision, reach out to our team using the form below.