Is the Great Wealth Transfer Overrated? What Will Your Clients Actually Leave Behind

It has been estimated that close to $1 trillion will have been inherited by Canadians at the end of this year, as part of the great wealth transfer that began more than a decade ago. It won't end there of course, in fact some say the pace will ramp up. But will it? 

There are key reasons to question one of the financial services industry's most optimistic narratives. 

Kevin Press, Editorial Director of Advisor.ca and Investment Executive, considers how much wealth will reach heirs, when it will arrive and how much will be available to invest. Longer lives and the costs of healthcare and caregiving may draw down savings. Later-life divorce, household debt and financial help for younger homebuyers can also change what families have to pass on. 

The presentation looks at wealth tied up in housing, its uneven distribution among Canadian households and the uncertainty of future investment returns. It follows the transfer from surviving spouses to adult children and grandchildren over several decades, then considers how retirement, housing and estate planning can account for outcomes that differ from the headline forecast.