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As housing costs rise and younger generations<\/a> struggle to build wealth, a growing debate has emerged over whether parents should prioritize leaving money to their children or enjoying their own retirement.<\/p>\n That debate recently played out in a Gen Z forum on Reddit<\/a> after a 20-year-old said that baby boomers will \u201cblow their child\u2019s inheritance on their \u2018golden years’\u201d instead of passing wealth down to future generations.<\/p>\n \u201cOld people, who are the most subsidized demographic in our society, will take all that government money, sell their assets, and go live on a cruise ship or beachside condo until they croak with nothing to their name,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n Don’t Miss:<\/strong><\/p>\n Generational Wealth Or Personal Freedom? <\/p>\n The young commenter argued that one of the biggest drivers of wealth creation throughout history has been parents helping their children<\/a> get ahead financially. According to the post, many older Americans benefited from decades of rising home values, affordable housing and strong economic growth, only to leave younger generations facing a much more difficult path.<\/p>\n The poster acknowledged that the comments were broad generalizations but maintained that passing wealth from one generation to the next has traditionally helped families improve their financial standing over time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe trend is undeniable,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n Many agreed that inheritance can make a big difference. Several said that getting a house, some investments or even a smaller financial gift<\/a> can give someone a real head start, especially as home prices and everyday expenses keep getting more expensive.<\/p>\n Trending: <\/strong>Explore Jeff Bezos-backed Arrived Homes and see how investors are earning passive rental income \u2014 now with a limited-time 1% bonus match for new investors.<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI am fortunate enough to have inherited a house<\/a>, plus land, meaning I will never have to pay rent,\u201d one person shared their example. \u201cOf course all repairs and renovations have to be paid out of my pocket. Everything else can be used for investments, set aside or spent otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n Others argued that younger people today often make better financial decisions than previous generations but still struggle to achieve the same lifestyle their parents enjoyed.<\/p>\n Not Everyone Agreed <\/p>\n Many pushed back against the original argument and said adult children shouldn\u2019t expect an inheritance.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s their money,\u201d one person said. \u201cThey saved their whole lives to have. It\u2019s there for them to survive on for their last days on earth, not yours.\u201d<\/p>\n Several people said they actively encourage their parents to spend their retirement savings on travel, hobbies and experiences they may have postponed while raising children.<\/p>\n \u201cI want my parents to enjoy their retirement,\u201d one person wrote. \u201cThey deserve to spend that money however they want,\u201d another one added.<\/p>\n See Also: Earn While You Scroll: The Deloitte-Ranked #1 Software Company Growing 32,481% Is Opening Its $0.52\/Share Round to Investors<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Healthcare costs can also determine how much wealth gets passed down. Many shared stories about expensive cancer treatments, assisted living, nursing homes and dementia care.<\/p>\n One commenter said their grandfather\u2019s final weeks of cancer treatment cost more than $1 million. Others said that years of long-term care can quickly drain savings, home equity and investment accounts.<\/p>\n The conversation showed that there\u2019s no guarantee anyone will receive an inheritance. Parents might spend their savings, medical bills can eat up a lot of money, and plans can change as people get older.<\/p>\n For younger adults, that uncertainty is a big reason to build wealth independently. A SoFi Self-Directed Investing Account<\/a> can get you started with commission-free stock and ETF trading. Whether it\u2019s your first trade or your next trade, you can learn the market through hands-on investing and even receive up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account.<\/p>\n As many commenters said, building your own financial future may be a safer strategy than counting on an inheritance that may never arrive.<\/p>\n Read Next: Retirees With $1M+ In Savings Are Rethinking Their Tax Strategy \u2014 Here’s Why Some Are Turning To Specialized Advisors<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market<\/strong> <\/p>\n Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.<\/p>\n Arrived<\/strong><\/p>\n Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100<\/strong><\/a>. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.<\/p>\n Immersed<\/strong><\/p>\n Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> Known for its AR\/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.<\/p>\n Vinovest<\/strong><\/p>\n Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.<\/p>\n EnergyX<\/strong><\/p>\n EnergyX is a clean energy technology company focused on direct lithium extraction and refinery technologies for the lithium-ion battery supply chain.<\/a><\/strong> Its proprietary DLE systems are designed to recover lithium from brine resources more efficiently and with less environmental impact, supporting efforts to expand lithium supply for electric vehicles, grid-scale storage, and other battery applications.<\/p>\n FarmTogether<\/strong><\/p>\n Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 fully managed, with no landlord headaches.<\/p>\n EquityMultiple<\/strong><\/p>\n For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000<\/strong>,<\/a> with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.<\/p>\n Fundrise<\/strong><\/p>\n Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate<\/strong><\/a> and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.<\/p>\n American Hartford Gold<\/strong><\/p>\n American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer that helps clients buy physical gold and silver coins and bars, either for direct delivery or within self-directed precious metals IRAs.<\/a><\/strong> The company’s services include gold and silver IRAs, IRA rollovers, and home delivery of bullion, giving investors a way to use tangible metals to diversify portfolios and seek protection against inflation and market volatility.<\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock<\/strong><\/p>\n This article They’ll ‘Croak With Nothing To Their Name,’ Says A 20-Year-Old Who Thinks Boomers Will ‘Blow Their Child’s Inheritance On Their Golden Years’<\/a> originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. 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