Planning Across
Four Generations
of a Family
Multigenerational wealth planning coordinates investment decisions, protection strategies, education funding, and legacy goals across multiple generations — sometimes spanning from grandparents to great-grandchildren. It requires understanding each generation's distinct needs and time horizons while maintaining a cohesive approach that evolves as the family grows.
Without Coordination, Each Generation Plans in Isolation
When there is no coordinated framework, families encounter predictable disconnects — at every stage of life.
- Retirement decisions made without considering impact on the next generation's financial security
- Education funding strategies that don't align with the family's broader investment approach
- Protection gaps when the primary earner in one generation isn't adequately insured
- Missed opportunities to teach younger generations about stewardship and decision-making
One Family's Journey Across Decades
One family we serve now spans four generations — starting with the matriarch, then her adult son and daughter-in-law, their children, and now their children's children. The sequence of questions they asked over the years is familiar to many families.
The Matriarch — Retirement & Legacy
We focused on helping her navigate retirement so her savings could support the care and lifestyle she wanted while leaving a legacy to the charities that were important to her. We coordinated with her legal and tax advisors so her charitable wishes were reflected in her broader plan.
Her Son & Daughter-in-Law — Accumulation & Protection
They wanted to know that if something happened to the primary earner, the family would have a thoughtful combination of investment assets and insurance coverage. Working alongside their other advisors, they built a framework with long-term portfolios and staggered insurance policies.
Their Children — Education & Early Career
For education, we helped the parents understand how to use 529 plans and custodial accounts. As the children entered their working years, the focus turned to starting their own savings, evaluating employer benefits, and building early investing habits.
The Next Generation — Foundations & Values
We are helping the third generation think through education and custodial accounts for their kids, how those accounts fit into their own retirement goals, and how to talk about money in a way that is age-appropriate and grounded in the family's values.
This multi-generation example is illustrative and does not represent a guarantee of any particular outcome or experience for other clients.
What Belongs in a Multigenerational Plan?
A coordinated plan typically addresses several areas, adapted to each generation's stage of life.
Purpose & Values
How the family defines "financial success" across generations — from retirement security to charitable legacy to education funding.
Protection & Structure
Account ownership, insurance coverage for primary earners, and entity structures, coordinated with your estate planning attorney and insurance professionals.
Investment Policy
Risk, time horizon, and liquidity needs documented for each generation — retirees, accumulators, and young savers have different objectives.
Education & Capability
How younger generations learn about investing, stewardship, and financial decision-making as they mature.
Communication
How and when information is shared across generations, from family meetings to secure digital access to statements and plans.
Continuity
How the plan will be monitored and updated as family circumstances change — births, marriages, career transitions, retirement, and legacy transitions.
How Different Generations' Needs Are Addressed
Sustainable Withdrawals & Legacy
Investment focus shifts to income generation and coordination with legacy and charitable goals. Insurance needs may transition from protection to long-term care considerations.
Growth, Protection & Education
Portfolio emphasis on growth, balanced with liquidity for education expenses and protection through life and disability insurance to safeguard the family.
Early Habits & Foundation
Early savers benefit from time horizon — portfolios can be more growth-oriented, with focus on building habits, understanding employer benefits, and learning investment fundamentals.
Education Accounts & First Conversations
Education accounts are structured to match expected timelines, and age-appropriate conversations begin to introduce concepts of saving, spending, and giving.
How Riggs Approaches Multigenerational Planning
Riggs Asset Management is a SEC-registered investment adviser that works with family groups across multiple generations — sometimes four, as in the example above — to organize and manage their investment portfolios in the context of each generation's distinct needs and goals.
We coordinate investment management with clients' existing legal, tax, and insurance professionals and do not provide legal, tax, or insurance advice. Learn more about our investment management services.
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01
Life-Stage Alignment
Tailoring investment risk, withdrawal strategies, and protection planning to where each generation sits — retirement, accumulation, early career, or education phase.
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02
Centralized Visibility
A private client portal that aggregates accounts and documents to give families a clearer view of their financial picture across generations.
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03
Coordination with Other Advisors
Working alongside estate attorneys, CPAs, and insurance professionals to ensure investment decisions support the broader structures those professionals design.
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04
Education and Transitions
Facilitating conversations with younger generations, when clients invite it, to prepare them for increased responsibility over time.
We do not guarantee results, and investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Coordinate Investment Decisions
Across Generations?
If your family includes multiple generations with different goals, time horizons, and needs, we welcome a conversation about how we can help you see the full picture and make more informed decisions.
Talk with an AdvisorVisit our Who We Help page to see the types of families we serve.
Compliance and Disclosure. Riggs Asset Management Company, Inc. ("Riggs") is a SEC-registered investment adviser located in Dallas, Pennsylvania. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute personalized investment, legal, or tax advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Past discussions or examples are illustrative and do not predict future results. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.