I’ve seen it too many times: parents build a fortune, kids grow up in its shadow, and nobody says a word about it. The parents don’t want to “spoil” the kids or burden them. The kids, sensing the unspoken, stay quiet too, afraid to seem greedy or clueless. This silence is a ticking time bomb.

Wealth isn’t just money—it’s responsibility. If the next generation doesn’t know the plan, they’re set up to fumble. I’ve watched heirs inherit millions, only to burn through it because no one taught them how to manage it. Parents think shielding kids from wealth’s weight protects them. Wrong. It leaves them defenseless.

And it’s not just the kids. Parents who don’t talk about their estate risk leaving a mess—legal battles, tax hits, or worse, a family fractured over misunderstandings. A candid conversation about values, goals, and mechanics (trusts, wills, philanthropy) isn’t easy, but it’s essential.

Break the silence. Start small: share your financial philosophy, not just the numbers. Teach the kids to respect wealth, not worship it. Families that talk openly about money don’t just preserve wealth—they build stronger bonds. Silence? That’s the real wealth killer.