Wealth Transfers that Thrive: How to Give an Inheritance Early

Kate Gardner has some words of advice for parents concerned about transferring family wealth successfully: “Involve your kids as early and as honestly as possible.”

Kate is a next generation inheritor, or next-gen, who comes from a four-generation family business and received a stock portfolio of her own at age 21. Now in her early 30s, she’s using her resources for ministry and using her experience to encourage parents and inheritors alike.

“I’ve seen a lot of fear, rightly so, about what money can do to kids,” she says. But, given wisely, an inheritance can help the next generation learn and grow as they mature into adulthood.

She offers three tips for parents who want to bless their children with an inheritance that strengthens, not stunts.

1. Successful stewardship starts with family culture.

Inheritance starts long before the actual wealth transfer.

Start by building a family culture of love, honesty, and service to one another.

Kate echoed what many families at The Signatry have enjoyed: creating a family mission statement together that reflects your shared values and hope for the future.

When wealth flows out of a healthy family culture—one marked by love, service, and mutual respect—it feels less like a transaction and more like a continuation of shared purpose.

2. Involve your kids early and often.

Even before you formally transfer financial assets to your children, you can invite them into parts of your financial decision-making—especially in areas like generosity.

Make generosity a family activity. Ask your children what they think about giving and impact. Co-create your legacy with the people who will carry it on.

As kids grow up, it’s natural for differing opinions to emerge about the causes your family supports. As much as possible, let these differences be opportunities for conversation. You might discover new areas of common ground.

“There’s so much joy to be found there,” Kate encourages.

3. Inheritance is a learning opportunity.

Kate received her inheritance in early adulthood—a formative, identity-shaping season. Rather than stunting her growth, resources accelerated it.

Receiving wealth in her twenties forced her to wrestle deeply:

• How do I steward this sustainably?
• How do I give without feeling constantly asked for things?
• How do I live in a way that aligns with my faith and values?

That wrestling shaped her into someone more passionate about generosity and long-term impact. It wasn’t automatic. It required thinking, planning, and navigating nuanced relationships.

The “burden of blessing” is real. But so is the opportunity.

Kate describes feeling alone at times as she discerned how to steward her newfound wealth. She built a community of like-minded, young inheritors who walk through this journey together. In the same way, parents don’t have to disappear from the process. When inheritance happens during a formative time, you have the privilege to offer strategic input, counsel, and perspective while your children are learning to steward wisely.

Early inheritance as a picture of the gospel

“To me, it’s a picture of the gospel,” Kate said of her journey.

When her parents sat her down to talk through the inheritance she was about to receive, they said, “We’re doing this for you because we believe in you. We want you to pursue your dreams.”

In the same way, every Christian receives an unearned inheritance from Christ. Jesus invites us into his work and equips us to do what we could not do on our own.