The Great Wealth Transfer: A Guide to Generosity and Purpose

The Great Wealth Transfer: A Guide to Generosity and Purpose

by | Oct 3, 2025 | Estate Planning, Generosity

Key takeaways:

  • Over $84 trillion is expected to transfer from Baby Boomers to younger generations and charities by 2045 (Cerulli, 2021).

  • This moment is filled with both opportunity and complexity—especially when it comes to legacy and generosity.

  • With the right conversations, tools, and planning, families and ministries alike can steward this transition well.

Understanding the Great Wealth Transfer

The United States is in the early stages of the largest wealth transition in modern history (Cerulli, 2021). Often referred to as The Great Wealth Transfer, this shift involves trillions of dollars moving from older generations, primarily Baby Boomers, to their children, grandchildren, and charitable organizations.

Estimates vary, but projections suggest that between $68 and $84 trillion will be transferred by 2045. That includes about $12 trillion going to charitable causes and the rest to heirs (Cerulli, 2021). For context, the U.S. federal budget in 2024 was $6.8 trillion, making the Great Wealth Transfer more than three times that amount (Congressional Budget Office, 2024).

Baby Boomers, who currently hold more than $78 trillion in wealth, are beginning to pass down assets through wills, trusts, and gifts (CFA Institute, 2025). While the scale of this transfer is historic, its long-term positive impact in our communities will depend on how intentional people are during the transfer process.

Is the Next Generation Prepared?

The Great Wealth Transfer isn’t just a shift in dollars, it’s a shift in values, responsibility, and opportunity. For families, it raises important questions: Are the next generation ready to manage wealth wisely? Are they equipped with the tools and mindset to use what they receive in alignment with your family’s values?

Research shows that many people, especially younger adults, don’t feel prepared. One survey found that 72% of Americans don’t feel confident managing a financial windfall (Citizens Bank Survey, 2024). Many aren’t sure when or how to get trusted advice, and nearly a third said they would only seek help from a financial professional if they inherited $1 million or more (Citizens Bank Survey, 2024).

What impact will the next generation and our community miss out on if they are not prepared?

At the same time, expectations don’t always match reality. While a third of Millennials expect to receive an inheritance, only about 22% of Boomers expect to leave one (CFA Institute, 2024). A growing share of wealth may be spent on long-term care, medical costs, or even financial support flowing upward to older generations in need.

That’s why honest, intentional conversations across generations are so important. Don’t assume your children or grandchildren know your intentions and don’t assume they’ll be ready to navigate the responsibility on their own. Families who align on their values, communicate clearly, and prepare together will be positioned to steward their resources with purpose and generosity.

The Potential for Incredible Generosity

About $12 trillion is expected to be donated to charity by 2045 (Cerulli, 2021). Through intentional planning and conversations, even more could be given during the Great Wealth Transfer through tax-wise giving tools. 

At Ten Talents Foundation, we believe this is a moment for purposeful generosity. Whether it’s funding scholarships or starting a Donor Advised Fund so more money can go to nonprofits instead of taxes , this wealth transfer could be a turning point in our Central Valley and beyond.

For example, if you are planning to leave a piece of property to a family member, there are many strategies you could implement to save in capital gains taxes. Those tax savings could then be donated to a nonprofit you love, or put in a Donor Advised Fund your successors could give from for years to come!

Action Steps for Faithful Planning

Here are four steps we recommend to help you make the most of this moment—whether you’re planning to give, or preparing to receive: 

1. Clarify Your Goals

Take time to reflect: What kind of impact do you want to have? Do you want to support family, ministries, or both? Naming your giving goals helps shape a plan that aligns with your values—and helps your heirs understand your vision.

2. Build Financial Literacy in the Next Generation

Whether you’re giving or receiving, financial literacy is key. If you’re preparing to pass on resources, take time to share not just assets, but wisdom, your values, lessons, and hopes for how your gift will be used. And if you’re part of the next generation, seek out trusted education and mentorship. The more you understand about managing and multiplying what you’ve been given, the more impact you can make.

3. Use Tax-Wise Tools

Consider strategies like Donor-Advised Funds, charitable trusts, or giving appreciated assets. These can help reduce tax burdens and increase your impact. We can help you explore the best options based on your goals.

4. Communicate Clearly

The best plans can fall apart without communication. Talk with your loved ones, document your wishes, and involve a trusted advisor. A clear plan brings peace, clarity, and purpose.

Let’s Make This Moment Count 

The Great Wealth Transfer will define a generation. But its impact, especially for ministries and communities, will depend on whether generosity becomes part of the plan.

At Ten Talents Foundation, we help individuals and families steward their resources for God’s Kingdom. If you have questions about donor-advised funds, legacy giving, or strategic generosity, we’re here to walk with you and your family. 

Contact Ten Talents to learn more

How to Make a Lasting Impact through an Estate Plan: Insights from Experienced Attorney, Lanier Thomas

How to Make a Lasting Impact through an Estate Plan: Insights from Experienced Attorney, Lanier Thomas

by | Feb 11, 2025 | Estate Planning, Generosity

Lanier Thomas is a seasoned estate planning attorney at Fennemore Dowling Aaron Law Firm based in Fresno, CA. When asked why he became an estate planning attorney, Lanier said, “I wanted to help people build and preserve things.” 

With an impressive 45 years of experience helping individuals and families preserve their assets and legacies, Lanier has a unique perspective on the value estate planning has for an individual, family, business, and community.

The Ten Talents Foundation exists to help people mobilize a movement of generosity through strategic giving tools. With this in mind, our team asked Lanier, how can a person give to causes they love and make a lasting impact through an estate plan?

Understanding the Basics of an Estate Plan

Before diving into Lanier’s insights, it’s essential to understand what an estate plan is. In simple terms, an estate plan is a collection of legal documents that outline how a person’s assets will be distributed upon their passing. More than just a financial blueprint, it ensures loved ones are cared for and minimizes potential legal complications.

An estate plan isn’t just for the wealthy. Lanier explained, “If you’ve got a house, you’ve got something worth protecting… It’s about leaving your family with good instructions and saving them years of needless expense and heartache.”

Reflecting a Person’s Values through an Estate Plan

Lanier approaches estate planning with curiosity and precision, ensuring each plan reflects the client’s unique values.

“One of the biggest questions I like to ask people is, ‘Where did you learn about money and money’s role in your life and the world?’” Lanier explained. This helps him understand a client’s heart for giving and how that can be reflected in their estate plan.

Lanier encourages clients to focus their generosity on a few key causes. “[I] like people to focus on 4-5 charities in their estate planning,” he said.

He also asks: “What organizations can you give to nowI?” and “What assets do you not need anymore?” Helping clients work through these questions can lead them to give to causes they love now, sell assets, and create a much simpler, straightforward estate plan. 

The Transformational Impact of Including Nonprofits in Estate Plans

Incorporating nonprofits and ministries into estate plans has the potential to bring transformative, and lasting change to entire communities. 

“I’m a realist—I don’t think you can fix everything,” Lanier admitted. “But if it’s done effectively, I think [if more people included giving in their estate plans], we would hear more stories of impact.” It costs a lot for nonprofits to make real change in people’s lives, and strategic giving can fuel that work, explains Lanier.

Lanier emphasized the ripple effect of generosity: It’s not just here in the Central Valley; ”you can make an impact worldwide.“ From funding local community programs to sending medical supplies overseas, the possibilities are endless.

Why Give through an Estate Plan?

“In my experience, people who have had a heart of generosity… [are] more satisfied in life,” Lanier shared. 

 

Lanier emphasized that generosity isn’t just about monetary gifts; it’s about instilling values. “To me, it’s not about what you pass on and who you pass it on to, as much as it is about passing on a spirit of generosity for your family- for your kids, and for your grandkids.”

By weaving generosity into an estate plan, individuals not only provide financial security for their loved ones but can also create a lasting example of giving that can inspire future generations. 

Estate planning provides a unique opportunity to align one’s values with their resources, ensuring their legacy reflects what truly matters most.

Your Legacy, Your Impact

While it is challenging, estate planning challenges us to confront an often-uncomfortable reality. “Many people don’t want to think about death,” Lanier acknowledged. “We have to face our mortality, and as Christians,… we should be able to face that.”  

Rather than avoiding the topic, estate planning allows you to take intentional steps to steward what you’ve been entrusted with in a way that reflects your faith and priorities. By including nonprofits in your will or trust, you can provide for your loved ones while also supporting the causes that matter most to you. 

The impact doesn’t end with this generation—gifts given through thoughtful estate planning can plant seeds of generosity that will bless communities, transform lives, and inspire others for decades to come. 

Your legacy is more than wealth; it’s a reflection of your values and the hope you want to leave behind. A well-planned estate ensures that the love and generosity you’ve shown in your life will continue making a difference long after you’re gone.

The Role of Ten Talents in Helping You Build a Generous Legacy 

Creating an estate plan or updating an existing one doesn’t have to be  overwhelming. The Ten Talents Foundation can connect you with resources and experts like Lanier who can help you incorporate giving into your plan in a way that reflects your heart and priorities.

We also provide tools like Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), a simple yet effective way to steward your generosity. DAFs are like charitable investment accounts, allowing individuals, families, or businesses to give in a tax-wise, strategic way to causes they care about. DAFs can be incorporated into an estate plan and passed onto the next generation.

“A family can say, ‘Here are the causes that matter to us,’ and within reason, Ten Talents will follow that guidance [when helping you give through your DAF],” Lanier  shared. It’s a powerful way to leave a legacy of generosity.

Whether you’re creating your first estate plan, refining an existing one, or starting a Donor Advised Fund, Ten Talents want to help you along the way. 

Lanier Thomas, one of Ten Talents’ first board members and a current member of our advisory team, has helped us understand how a strategic, prayerful, thoughtful estate plan can bless lives, transform communities, and inspire future generations. 

If you would like to start an estate plan or include a charitable gift in your existing will or trust, contact Ten Talents through the button below. We will connect you with the right people and resources to help you have peace of mind and leave a lasting legacy.

Contact Ten Talents