Want to Give the Kids an Early Inheritance?

If you’re thinking about giving your children their inheritance early, you’re not alone.

A recent Merrill Lynch study suggests that nearly two-thirds of people over the age of 50 would rather pass their assets to the children early than at their death.   Whether its to help them start a new business or help them buy their first home. It can be especially satisfying to help fund your children’s dreams while you’re alive to enjoy them.  There’s no real financial penalty for doing as long as you structure the arrangement correctly.

Here are four important factors to take into account when planning to give an early inheritance.

1.  Keep the tax codes in mind.

The IRS doesn’t care whether you give away your money now or later—the lifetime estate tax exemption as of 2016 is $5.45 million per individual, regardless of when the funds are transferred. So, whether you give up to $5.45 million away now or wait until you die with that amount, your estate will not owe any federal estate tax (although remember, the law is always subject to change). You can even give up to $14,000 per person (child, grandchild, or anyone else) per year without any gift tax issues at all. You might hear these $14,000 gifts referred to as “annual exclusion” gifts. There are also ways to make tax-free gifts for educational expenses or medical care, but special rules apply to these gifts. Your estate planner can help you successfully navigate the maze of tax issues to ensure you and your children receive the most significant benefit from your giving

2.  Gifts that keep on giving.

One way to make your children’s inheritance go even farther is to give it as an appreciable asset. For example, helping one of your children buy a home could increase the value of your gift considerably as the house appreciates in value. Likewise, if you have stock in a company that is likely to prosper, gifting some of the stock to your children could result in greater wealth for them in the future.

3.  One size does not fit all.

Don’t feel pressured to follow the same path for all your children in the name of equal treatment. One of your children might prefer to wait to receive her inheritance, for example, while another might need the money now to start a business. Give yourself the latitude to do what is best for each child individually; just be willing to communicate your reasoning to the family to reduce the possibility of misunderstanding or resentment

4. Don’t touch your retirement.

If the immediate need is great for one or more of your children, resist the urge to tap into your retirement accounts to help them out. Make sure your future is secure before investing in your children’s. It may sound selfish in the short term, but it’s better than possibly having to lean on your kids for financial help later when your retirement is depleted.

Giving your kids an early inheritance is not only feasible, but it also can be highly fulfilling and rewarding for all involved. That said, it’s best to include a trusted financial advisor and an experienced estate planning attorney to help you navigate tax issues and come up with the best strategy for transferring your assets.