The research finds that 15% of UK adults aged between 16 and 54, or more than 5 million adults, have revised their financial plans based on inheritance expectations. The most significant alterations have been made to saving plans and property purchases.
The largest proportion of changes by under 55s were made to their saving plans, with half of people either saving less (25%) or saving more (25%) as a result of their inheritance expectations.
Neil Jones, Wealth Management and Tax Specialist at Canada Life said: A risky strategy to bank on an inheritance that may not materialise and an even riskier strategy to change your plans based on what you expect to inherit. By essentially playing inheritance roulette, people are putting their financial health at risk. This is especially true when you consider that there are over half a million people aged 90 plus in the UK, meaning that many people won’t receive an inheritance until retirement, or possibly not at all in the instance that care costs erode the value of any inheritance.
“On a positive note, those who decided to save more in light of their inheritance expectations appear to be taking a longer-term of their financial situation. Our research last year found that 1 in 25 people have inheritance expectations that amount to £1 million, with 1 in 50 people’s inheritance expectations exceeding £5 million.”
The research also found that 22% of under 55s also plan to delay moving house until they receive their inheritance. Half of those (50%) who opted to stay put were aged between 16 and 34. However, less than one in six (14%) chose not to buy a house as a result of their inheritance expectations.
Neil Jones continues: “While inheriting assets such as property or other wealth can be a significant boon to an individual’s wealth, changing financial plans based on such a promise is short-sighted.
“That is why good conversations between benefactors and beneficiaries are so crucial. With the help of a financial adviser, these discussions can help heirs better prepare for their inheritance and ensure that inter-generational wealth planning makes the most of the opportunities available.”
Canada Life’s recent Pensions, Property and Inheritance Planning report highlights using trusts, gifting and equity in property to help fund retirement, preserving favourably taxed pension wealth that could help benefactors pass more of their estate tax efficiently.
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