Talking to heirs early matters more than you think

Expert perspective

March 11, 2026 Julie Virta, CFP® Vanguard Senior Wealth Advisor Executive “Most parents or grandparents expect to share their plans ‘someday,’ but that day can come later than they intend, or later than their heirs need,” said Julie Virta, CFP®, a senior wealth executive at Vanguard, in a recent commentary in Kiplinger. “Silence doesn’t protect loved ones. It can leave doubt, resentment, and fractured relationships long after assets transfer.” Among Virta’s tips for family wealth transfers: Start the conversation early, at your comfort level, to give heirs clarity before decisions become urgent. Focus on values and intent, not just logistics, so heirs have clarity around family wealth priorities. Reduce future stress by organizing plans, documents, and roles well before a transfer takes place. Read Virta’s full commentary, which includes key steps for grantors, at Kiplinger. Related Links Article 6 min read Building confidence for the great wealth transfer ahead Dec 22, 2025 Article 6 min read Dec 22, 2025 Article 6 min read Four ways financial advice delivers true value Dec 11, 2025 Article 6 min read Dec 11, 2025 Article 6 min read Charitable trusts: Strategic planning and giving Oct 09, 2025 Article 6 min read Oct 09, 2025 Notes: All investing is subject to risk. CFP Board owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, in the U.S. Vanguard Information and Insights Subscribe to Vanguard. Get Vanguard news, insights, and timely analysis on the market, delivered straight to your inbox. Read our online privacy notice to learn about how we keep personal information private. You have certain cookies disabled on the Vanguard site. In order to watch videos on this site, you must agree to the use of cookies provided by YouTube. Click here to permit these cookies and watch the videos.