Making Priceless Memories

Over the past few months, we’ve seen a growing number of clients express a heartfelt desire to make a difference while they’re still here—to witness the impact of their generosity and create priceless memories with family and friends. It’s a shift in focus: from leaving a legacy later to living that legacy now.

Whether it’s helping with a first home, contributing to education, or simply offering financial stability, the common question we are hearing is:

“How can I support my children or grandchildren without compromising my own financial wellbeing?”

This shift aligns with the framework posed “Die With Zero” by Bill Perkins and reflects a powerful intention: to give meaningfully and responsibly - ensuring your loved ones are supported while your own future remains secure.

Here are some tips to ensure you are giving meaningfully.

1. Invest in Experiences

• Create shared memories by planning and funding family holidays, reunions, or milestone celebrations - experiences that bring generations together.

• Gift travel such as educational trips, gap year support, or study abroad programs.

• Support hobbies or passions by helping fund music lessons, sports programs, or creative pursuits that enrich their lives.

• Host intergenerational experiences, like cooking classes, storytelling nights, or family history projects that strengthen bonds.

• Celebrate life events meaningfully—contribute to weddings, graduations, or other milestones in a way that reflects your values and love.

2. Education & Housing Support

• Contribute to education costs by setting up dedicated savings or investment accounts for school fees, university expenses, or vocational training.

• Support first home buyers by helping with a deposit to allow them to get into a home sooner.

3. Passing on Financial Wisdom

• Share your financial journey—the wins, the mistakes, and the lessons learned—so younger generations can benefit from your experience.

• Invite family members to planning sessions to foster transparency and help loved ones understand your values and decisions.

• Encourage financial literacy by gifting books, recommending trusted resources, or introducing budgeting and investing tools.

Here are some tips to ensure you are giving responsibly.

1. Discuss with Us Your Goals and Boundaries

• Before making any financial ‘gifts’ or commitments, have a conversation with us at Evolution Financial Planning to clarify your intentions and assess the impact on your own financial wellbeing. Generosity should never come at the cost of your own financial security. Maintain a buffer for unexpected expenses such as healthcare needs, or lifestyle changes including Aged Care.

• Define what you’re comfortable giving both in terms of dollar amount and the timing, so your generosity doesn’t compromise your lifestyle or long-term plans.

• One of the most impactful ways to support the next generation is by bringing them into the conversation. We’ve found that when families sit down together—parents, children, and sometimes even grandchildren it opens the door to shared understanding, transparency, and long-term financial confidence.

We’re happy to facilitate these meetings and tailor them to your family’s needs. If you’re considering a gift or want to ensure your legacy is understood and respected, let’s schedule a time to talk together.

2. Protect Yourself and Your Beneficiaries Legally and Financially

• Consider formal agreements in order to protect the money in case your beneficiary divorces, goes bankrupt, or has any other legal dispute. A formal loan agreement ensures your intentions are upheld and your (now their) assets are safeguarded as much as possible.

• Ensure your estate plan reflects any significant gifts, loans, or changes in family dynamics. This ensures your Estate is split in line with your intentions and remains fair.

• Be aware of Centrelink gifting limits and how gifting/loaning may affect your entitlements.

3. Consider ‘gifting’ knowledge and experience

• We have worked with a number of clients who wanted to gift a sum of money to each of their young-adult children to help them get ahead financially. Rather than simply transferring the funds to them, they invited their children to meet with us individually to discuss how best to use the gift.

Together, we explored investment options tailored to their goals, whether it was saving for a home, building a long-term portfolio, or setting up an emergency fund. The result? A meaningful gift that not only provided financial support but also empowered the next generation with knowledge and confidence.

This kind of approach ensures your generosity becomes a foundation for smart financial habits and long-term security.

What are you waiting for?

Helping the next generation is one of the most meaningful aspects of financial planning. With the right strategies, you can support your loved ones while maintaining your own peace of mind.

If you’d like to explore your options, we’re here to help.