USA: Don't Rely on Inheritance to Fund Old Age, says AARP

People are living longer and dipping into savings to make ends meet. There might not be as much to will and bequeath. NEW YORK (Herald.com), October 30, 2005: If inheritance is a major factor in your retirement equation, it may be wise to do the math again. The prediction of a huge generational transfer of wealth may, in fact, be a bust, warns a report of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). At one time, experts forecast that the World War II generation -- reputed to be a generation of savers -- would pass on approximately $10 trillion in assets to their children, the baby boomers. The boomers -- a generation of spenders -- thought they could use their inheritance to pad their own retirement, finance college education for their children or spend as they pleased. It was a windfall in the waiting. But for one thing: The elderly are living longer and better. They're dipping into savings, enjoying themselves and leaving far less cash behind. An AARP study showed that about five in six boomers reported that they had not received an inheritance by 2001. Also, as of 2001, about five in six said they did not expect to receive an inheritance in the future. Counting on inheritances may be a serious miscalculation. The boomers who actually inherit probably won't have enough to form the backbone of a retirement plan. What boomers can do is to assume that they are on their own financially and take care to manage their money as effectively as possible. Then, if they do receive an inheritance, it will be an added bonus, rather than a temporary crutch. BY MARSHALL LOEB MarketWatch © 2005 Herald.com http://www.miami.com