Once, the rules of prosperity in this country were clear…

Work hard. Save wisely.

That formula built the middle class and defined generations of proud Americans.

But it’s become unnervingly clear the same rules don’t deliver the same results anymore…

Since early 2020, home prices have jumped nearly 50% while wages have barely budged.¹ Student debt has climbed past $1.6 trillion² – while many argue the return on those degrees has waned.³

And by far the saddest statistic comes from a new Wall Street Journal–NORC survey…

Nearly 80% of Americans don’t believe their children will be better off.⁴

But to those of you who aren’t ready to concede that dream – who still believe effort should be rewarded and families should look after their own – keep reading…

Understanding what can be done – as the family’s financial anchor – is today’s battle cry.

If you’ve spent a lifetime building something – a paid-off home, a strong retirement account, a thriving business, or an investment portfolio that’s grown through years of discipline – then you’ve already done the hardest part.

But now comes the next one: protecting it.

And today, only about half of high-net-worth families report having a formal wealth-succession plan in place…⁵

The Playbook That Built America – and Why It’s Failing Families Now

The old markers of financial progress – homeownership, stable careers, dependable savings – have quietly drifted out of reach for many Americans.

From 1950 through the early 2000s, inflation-adjusted income rose steadily while the cost of living remained manageable. A single paycheck could support a family, buy a home, fund a college education, and still leave room to save for retirement.

That was the rhythm generations of eager, hardworking Americans mastered. It rewarded patience, discipline, and optimism. The qualities that built neighborhoods, small businesses, and financial independence across the country.

But somewhere between the Great Recession and the pandemic, that rhythm broke down…

Median home prices are now more than five times the median household income, compared with roughly three times in the mid-1980s…⁶

Meaning it takes far longer to reach the same milestones that once came naturally with time and discipline – the life lessons older Americans have tried to teach kids and grandkids, but are rewarded less and less in practice.

It also means older generations’ accumulated experience and assets have become the family’s true stabilizer – the safety net in an economy that no longer guarantees stability on its own.

That reality doesn’t diminish what’s been built; rather, it reframes what stewardship means today…

Because being the “financial anchor” now goes beyond saving well or investing wisely…

It’s about thinking structurally – how your decisions today can safeguard what your family depends on tomorrow…

…Who you want to be for your kids and grandkids, and how you want to be remembered.

How One Generation’s Success Can Secure the Next

Americans over 55 now hold more than two-thirds of all household wealth, according to Federal Reserve data.⁷ That means over the next two decades, roughly $84 trillion will change hands as part of what economists are calling The Great Wealth Transfer:⁸

That number isn’t just about dollars…

It represents lifetimes of work, sacrifice, and compounding decisions. Decades spent saving, investing, and building something worth passing on.

But wealth doesn’t just move automatically.

And the truth is, a Charles Schwab 2024 survey found that fewer than 60 percent of investors with more than $1 million in assets have a documented plan for how that wealth will be passed down.⁹

It’s a telling reminder that even among affluent families, what endures isn’t just what’s earned – it’s what’s organized and communicated.

That’s why many forward-thinking older Americans are reimagining what “estate planning” really means…

As one of our partner advisers, John J. Parise – Founder & Managing Partner of Copper Beech Financial Group, with more than 40 years of experience in multigenerational planning – often tells clients, good planning goes beyond documents. It’s about aligning values with strategy and being clear about what you want your money to stand for over time.

That could mean designing trusts that support education or entrepreneurship. It might involve preparing heirs to manage real estate, ensuring a family business transitions smoothly, or taking advantage of smart, tax-efficient strategies.

Regardless, at its core, this next phase of planning isn’t just about preserving wealth — it’s about preserving purpose and values.

When families take time to talk openly, bring their advisers together, and define what they truly want their legacy to represent, they don’t just protect assets – they protect relationships.

That’s what stewardship looks like today.

And it doesn’t have to be daunting. In fact, it can be incredibly easy…

Turn Planning into Purpose

Being the “financial anchor” doesn’t have to mean managing every detail yourself. Rather, it can be the far less consuming task of coordinating the people and plans that keep a family aligned – the tax professional, the attorney, the adviser – so that what you’ve built stands the test of time.

Every generation faces a moment when the definition of success changes.

For the Greatest Generation, it was rebuilding…

For Baby Boomers, it was growth and ownership…

Perhaps the task of today, given the ways the country has changed over time, is one of preservation – of both wealth and wisdom.

Because what’s really at stake isn’t just balance sheets or inheritance—

It’s the same promise that hard work, discipline, and care can still make life better for those who follow.

That promise built America – and it’s still worth protecting and passing on.

If you’ve built something worth passing on… a business, a portfolio, a lifetime of effort…

Don’t leave its future to chance.

At WorthNet, our mission is to connect thoughtful families with seasoned advisers who can bring clarity to complexity – helping you protect what you’ve built and prepare those who’ll one day inherit it.