Posted on 02/05/2026 3:59:48 AM PST by where's_the_Outrage?
Isabella and Lorenzo are siblings who have faced financial difficulties throughout adulthood. Both are in their 30s — Isabella’s a divorced mom of three, Lorenzo’s a married father of two — and they’re barely making ends meet. Let’s say they have only a few thousand dollars in savings between them.
She inherited a home and a substantial amount of money when her own mother died, making her a multi-millionaire, and she was also the beneficiary of a life insurance policy when her husband (Isabella and Lorenzo’s father) passed away five years ago. After her husband died, the mother sold the family home, which had greatly appreciated in value since they bought it 40 years ago.
That’s why Isabella was shocked when, on a recent phone call, her mother told her that she planned to spend every cent she had before she died — leaving nothing in her will to her two children. Her mother said she wanted to enjoy her golden years to the fullest and had crafted a “die with zero” budget that would ensure she spent all her money.
Isabella thinks their mom is being selfish, while Lorenzo is worried she’s being reckless. Should the siblings confront their mother about her retirement plans?
Some billionaires have famously declared that they won’t leave their substantial fortune to their children.
Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of the late Steve Jobs, intends to pass on her estimated $14.9 billion to charity. Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have set up the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative for research and intend to give 99% of their Meta shares away. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have also famously stated that their children should make their own way in the world, with Gates noting, “leaving kids massive amounts of money is not a favor to them
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
I disagree with the level of responsibility you place on a parent.
A parent is responsible for their child’s development up to the age of consent and until they pass the age of innocence. That is well before any college and honestly can be before they even leave High School.
After that everyone must answer to themselves, anything else is only enabling excuses and allowing the child to avoid accountability.
In the end everyone must either be saved or answer to their life, no one gets a pass for some preadult trauma, we all must account to our Lord.
Here is a direct link to the article. The MSN one wore out.
The mom is 65 and probably has at least another 20 years of longevity.
Inheritance is also a way to keep your heirs taking care of you.
My plan is when I need assistance it to move to Thailand and employ two 20 year old hot “nurses” to feed and bathe me. Cost about $3k a month.
But yes, I used to tell my dad to spend his money, he didn’t need to leave me a dime.
I’m not financial expert, but it sounds like you might be a candidate for some sort of trust. Maybe the trust could even specify ... “If my death is not intentionally caused by my wife” (which I bet would raise a few eyebrows).
I know. And that value is system has made owning a home more difficult for the American, but not out of the range for those cultures that exercise a level of clan living.
Good luck to the American child in buying an $800,000 home, while having to pay for the debt accumulated in his absense.
I get what you’re saying, which is why I made it clear that it was dependent upon the child being responsible and productive. If he’s lounging about playing his video game, my opinion does not apply to him.
However, if he’s adulting successfully while at home, I think the best thing to do for your family line is to help your children become as successful as they can before they become fully independent.
Trump is an example of child raised well who could appreciate the gift his father gave him as not a means to retire in his 20’s.
I got stuck at the start of the second paragraph. Author makes me assume “she” is Isabella’s mother. The author needs a remedial lesson in continuity.
As usual, I didn’t finish reading the article and skipped to comments which are excellent.
My father-in-law was on a tractor at 5. He would also get up at midnight and travel over 2 miles to get his rabbit traps (20) and process the rabbits before the sun came up. He got a nickel each, which he gave to his mother. He was one of 14 kids.
Just updated the trust Monday. Kind of expensive to set up but necessary especially if my wife and I pass together leaving the daughter on her own.
My folks both lived through the depression with little education & little money. They couldn’t afford much, but we children didn’t expect a lot, either. I know I didn’t. I am old now & will possibly pass up a few things in life that would be nice, but want to be able to leave my son someting if possible. He has a good job, but plenty of financial responsibilitys as well.
Love it. I am of the opinion that kids should be trained from birth, in accordance to their ability, to be as independent as they can be, including cooking something when they are children.
Under supervision, of course.
Also, I told my oldest son I'd give him $1000, but only if he agreed to start an investment account with it. This caused him to begin studying investing, and he's become pretty savvy. Last time I checked he had accumulated over $100k in that account (and now he manages my own investments - except for that silver investment that I made a couple of weeks ago, which he is still laughing about).
I told my father to spend every single penny of what he has worked so hard for. He is a retired veteran (Korean War) and I told him I would pay for the biggest funeral for him if he died broke and happy.
Sounds to me like "Mom" dumped it all into an annuity...
Inheritance?
No body “deserves” an inheritance legacy.They earn it via conduct.
If the legator finds there is natural love and affection upon which to base a devise in a will to a legatee, then that’s the true basis.Why are her children caterwauling?Sounds like they did their mother dirty.
Why should any Legator devise an inheritance to a couple of loser -pikers? She should leave it in Trust for the upkeep of a pet parrot, or tortoise, they can live for 200 years.
If your son is responsible, any help that you provide will help him help his children situate themselves when they are adults. That’s how you create generational wealth.
You don’t “deserve” anything that you never earned. Would it be nice if she leaves you something? Yes.
Drop her off in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness. If she makes it home, then you obviously raised her properly.
She sounds like a bitch.
Mom is a bitch and she just wants your attention. Old people regress to infantilism.
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