Raising a family is perhaps the most immensely rewarding thing any person can do. It is, however, an achievement that is fraught with anxiety and insecurity. It can be extremely difficult at times, and families do not take care of themselves.
A great deal of planning needs to take place if a family is to remain secure and prosperous in these incredibly uncertain and tumultuous times. If you want to start a family and want to make sure that your unit thrives and survives, you are going to need to take some important steps.
The weight of responsibility can be extremely daunting to people as they start a family. This article is a quick roundup of some of the things that you and your partner(s) can do to protect your family’s best life – even in an era as unpredictable as this one.
Insurance
If you have wealth that you want to pass on to future generations of your family, you are going to need to insure that wealth. There are several kinds of insurance that are essential for the protection of family wealth. Life insurance, income insurance and property insurance all ensure that wealth can be passed down despite death, illness or property damage. Companies like Future Proof offer life and wealth protection insurance packages that protect your family’s financial stability in the event of a disaster.
Insurance policies vary wildly in price and terms. If you have access to a financial advisor, make use of their expertise when choosing insurance plans. As a general rule, the more wealth you have, the more money you will have to spend on insurance policies.
Will
Always ensure that you have a comprehensive last will and testament that is overseen by competent legal professionals. When you pass away, you want to make sure that your wealth is used to protect the stability and prosperity of the ones that you love.
Wills exist in part to prevent any conflict from arising among your descendants about the ownership of your estate and valuable possessions. Preventing conflict is one of the most important things you can do as part of a family, and that includes after you have passed on, too.
The Statute of Wills was first introduced in the early modern period – 1540, to be precise – and is still the basis of UK laws surrounding passing on wealth to future generations.
Investment
Sound investments will enable you to look after your family’s wealth even after you have passed away. Property is one of the popular ways of fostering intergenerational stability through investment, as explained in Forbes. Be aware, however, that the broader financial and political machinations around the world will impact property prices in the future in ways that no amount of planning can defend against.
Investing in some jewelry, as mentioned in Lux-Review is a good way of passing your wealth down to future generations without leaving them at the mercy of the in-flux financial market. Precious metals and stones typically retain their worth in tumultuous times.
The best investments aimed at creating multigenerational stability are those that stay solid – not necessarily those that grow exponentially during your lifetime. Seek the expertise of professional financial advisors and put money into investments that you know will surely retain their value in the future. Clever investments can set your family up for generations to come.
Education
Investing in your children’s education is one of the most significant things you can do to keep your family secure for generations to come. Although investing in private education is extremely beneficial, it is not the only way that you can help future generations in your family thrive using the money that you have.
The vast majority of university graduates lug around thousands of pounds worth of student loan debt with them. If you have the resources, paying for a part or all of your children’s university education can help them out massively in the long run and allow them to pursue stability without having the shadow of debt cast over them.
University education is more expensive than it was half a century ago. University tuition fees were first announced in 1998 and have risen since then. It is likely to increase in price in the near future due to the ongoing financial instability around the world. Paying for university tuition is one of the kindest and wisest things that you can do to help future generations of your family.
Security
If you want your family to keep living their best lives, you are going to have to help them to feel secure. Make sure that your family property is adequately secured using state-of-the-art technology – and plain old common sense. Ensure that locks are regularly changed and that all members of your family know what security measures they need to take care to follow during their everyday lives. Most security measures are fairly common sense based. High-tech solutions such as remotely viable cameras are more affordable than ever.
Empathy And Acceptance
All of these material guidelines are important, but they cannot replace empathy and acceptance in the creation of a secure and prosperous family. Your descendants and dependents are not, by any means, a complete reflection or extension of yourself. Practice accepting and empathetic behavior around the people you love. An overly restrictive or materialistic approach to family building can lead to problems further down the line. Keep your horizons broad and accept the changes you cannot control – your family will thank you.
Legal Guardianship
Should the worst occur and you and your partner fall ill or die while your family is still young, you need to be safe in the knowledge that your family will be helped by a legal guardian. Many cultures around the world incorporate surrogate guardianship. In Christianity, for instance, Godparents are usually chosen by a family in order to look after children in the event of a disaster. It is important to legally name potential surrogate guardians in order to prevent long and emotionally damaging custody issues occurring after your death.
