I was thrilled to be quoted in this article discussing the trillion-dollar wealth transfer and the challenges it brings. As this wealth transfers from baby boomers to their millennial heirs, it isn’t only about money. In fact, the younger generations are expecting to inherit tons of their parents’ stuff – from furniture and collectibles to artwork and heirloom jewellery.

Millennials across the country are now facing the overwhelming task of sorting, disbursing, and disposing of decades of accumulated possessions. Unfortunately, this “stuff transfer” is occurring at a unique time in history – kids don’t want their parents’ stuff. Compared to older generations, younger people live in smaller homes, move more frequently, and prefer digital assets (Wikipedia over encyclopedias). Likewise, lifestyle preferences are shifting towards functionality, not sentimentality. Consequently, millennials face many emotional challenges as they deal with sentimental items. Navigating these preferences while still honouring the feelings older generations have for their belongings can be incredibly complex.

Downsizing a family home or managing an estate is physically strenuous, especially when kids inherit tons of possessions. Then, there is the emotional roller coaster ride involving guilt, nostalgia, and difficult conversations about what to keep, sell, or discard. The Out of Chaos team often sees the emotional toll on family members in these situations. It highlights the role professional organizers can play in helping families make wise and timely decisions to honour memories and avoid pitfalls like expensive storage fees.

I was pleased to see the article included my suggestion of having older generations give items away while they are still alive. When they convey the history and stories about their cherished possessions, younger generations will appreciate them much more.

Read more of my articles on downsizing, including:

• About Downsizing… Kids Don’t Want Their Parents’ Stuff
• The Costs of Downsizing
• The Estate Clearing Process
• The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (book review)
• The Downsizing Party