Financial Experts Advised Earlier Wealth Transfers
New guidance suggests that parents consider providing inheritances to children between ages 28 and 33.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Financial Planning
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Author Bill Perkins suggests transferring wealth to children between the ages of 28 and 33 to maximize the utility of those funds. This approach contrasts with current data from the Federal Reserve, which indicates the most common age to receive an inheritance is 60.
Why it matters
Money may provide higher utility to children when they are younger, as the human brain reaches peak mental acuity at age 28. Shifting inheritance timelines could help heirs navigate modern financial pressures, such as the rising median age of first-time homebuyers.
While the most common age to receive an inheritance is 60, experts recommend the 28-to-33 age window to help heirs. For instance, Virginia Colin received $130,000 at age 49, a timeframe many planners now consider less efficient than earlier transfers.
The players
Bill Perkins
The author of Die with Zero who advocates for spending and transferring wealth during peak years of utility.
Virginia Colin
A recipient of a $130,000 inheritance who provides a case study for wealth transfer at age 49.
Federal Reserve
The central bank of the United States that manages interest rates and monitors national inflation targets.
The details
Parents typically manage early transfers by placing funds into a trust or gifting assets before death. This strategy aims to provide capital when it can be used for significant life milestones, a goal complicated by the fact that the median age of a first-time homebuyer reached 40 last year, compared to 28 in 1991. Inflation also adds pressure, with the August consumer price index rising 0.4% and remaining above the Federal Reserve's 2% target for five years.
Timeline
In 1991, the median age of a first-time homebuyer was 28.
Last year, the median age of a first-time homebuyer was 40.
In August, the consumer price index rose 0.4%.
Last week, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates.
Money Landscape
Wealth transfer strategies are increasingly colliding with the broader economic trend of rising costs for major life events. As inflation remains above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, the timing of financial support from parents has become a critical variable in household planning.
Families may want to review their estate plans to determine if earlier asset transfers could better support children facing higher costs for homeownership. Consider discussing the tax implications and long-term consequences of these transfers with a qualified financial or tax professional.
The takeaway
The core insight is that delaying wealth transfers until later in life may significantly reduce the value of those funds for the next generation. Consider scheduling a review of your current estate documents and discussing potential early gifting strategies with a qualified financial professional.
Further reading
For more on managing family wealth, visit our Financial Planning section.
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Do you believe parents should transfer wealth to children before death rather than as an inheritance?
