Thinking about my kids' inheritance - anyone else looking at gold for generational wealth?

Ronald Morris

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Thinking about my kids' inheritance - anyone else looking at gold for generational wealth?

ronald_morris👑Elite (1m-5m)

about 2 months ago

Key Takeaways

•After a long career in the Navy, retiring as an Admiral, discipline and long-term planning are just ingrained in me.
•I’m trying to figure out the best way to structure an inheritance that's resilient against market fluctuations and inflation.
•Gold just seems like such a solid, tangible asset compared to just passing down a run-of-the-mill brokerage account.

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Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about the next generation, specifically my two daughters and what kind of financial legacy I'm leaving them. After a long career in the Navy, retiring as an Admiral, discipline and long-term planning are just ingrained in me. My investment approach has always been pretty conservative, focusing on capital preservation and steady growth, which is why a significant portion of my 401k rollover went into a Gold IRA a few years back. The current portfolio is sitting comfortably between $2.5M and $3M, and while we're good for retirement here in Virginia Beach, I've got my sights set further out.

I’m trying to figure out the best way to structure an inheritance that's resilient against market fluctuations and inflation. Gold just seems like such a solid, tangible asset compared to just passing down a run-of-the-mill brokerage account. The idea of them having a physical, finite asset, especially in times of economic uncertainty, brings me a lot of peace of mind. It’s not just about the monetary value; it's about teaching them the importance of diversified assets and not having all their eggs in the paper currency basket. Has anyone else gone down this road? How are you planning to transfer these assets, or are you just letting existing beneficiaries handle it?

My main concern right now is navigating the RMDs when the time comes. I’ve been playing around with the RMD Calculator to get a clearer picture of what those distributions might look like from my Gold IRA, especially since I don't want to prematurely liquidate more than necessary. It's a handy tool for projecting future payouts. But thinking beyond my own required distributions, I want to ensure that my daughters understand the unique benefits of holding precious metals and potentially continuing that strategy themselves. Any insights from those who have successfully passed on precious metal IRAs or physical gold to their heirs would be really appreciated. What were the challenges, and what did you learn?

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6 comments

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Best Answer▲ 17 upvotes

robert_thompson💰Established (100-250k)

My advisor told me 10-15% in gold is the sweet spot but I went heavier. We'll see how it plays out.

Comments (6)

david_brown💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor•about 2 months ago

Totally get this. My dad was similar, though less Admiral and more "fiscally conservative small business owner." He started quietly tucking away some gold and silver for me and my sister years ago, almost as a hobby. Didn't make a huge deal about it at the time, but now that I'm older, I actually really appreciate that foresight. It's not a massive portion of his estate, but it's a tangible asset that feels, well, *solid* in a way other investments don't sometimes.

It's definitely a different way to think about generational wealth, but one I'm starting to consider for my own kid as well. Good on you for planning ahead!

kenneth_parker💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

That's an interesting angle, Admiral. Given your background in long-term planning, what's your take on the liquidity of physical gold if your daughters ever needed to access those funds quickly?

helen_turner💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor•about 2 months ago

That's great you're thinking so far ahead for your daughters! While gold definitely has its place as a store of value, I sometimes wonder if it's the *most* efficient way to build generational wealth, especially when you consider the potential long-term growth of a well-diversified portfolio that includes equities. Gold can be slow and steady, but sometimes those other assets really accelerate things for the next gen. Just a thought!

donna_rogers🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor•about 2 months ago

Hey, that's a really thoughtful approach to generational wealth! It makes total sense, especially with your background, to be thinking long-term like that.

One tip that might be helpful when considering gold for inheritance is to look into how different forms of gold (physical vs. ETFs, etc.) are handled for estate planning and probate in your specific state. Sometimes a direct transfer of physical bullion can be simpler than navigating trust documents for other assets. The World Gold Council has some good general resources on that. Good luck with the planning!

jennifer_martinez💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Totally agree with you on this. I've been doing the same kind of thinking for my son. After seeing what happened in 2008 and then again with the inflation lately, having some physical gold feels like a no-brainer for a portion of his future. It’s hard to imagine something more tangible and timeless.

My granddad actually passed down a few gold coins to my dad, and my dad then gave them to me. It's a small but meaningful tradition that I want to continue. It feels less like an investment and more like a true preservation of value across generations.