A legacy is often thought of as something financial—a nest egg or an inheritance passed on to future generations. While financial assets are one part of a legacy, they don’t encompass the full meaning. A legacy can take many forms, each representing a different facet of how a person’s life and values continue to influence others.
Here are some different ways legacy can be understood:
- Financial Legacy: This is the most familiar type, involving wealth, property, or financial security passed to loved ones. It may include trust funds, charitable donations, or an inheritance that provides for future generations.
- Institutional Legacy: For some, leaving a legacy means contributing to institutions, such as starting a foundation, building a company, or helping to create an enduring community organization. This can also extend to supporting a cause or charity that aligns with your values, ensuring its continuation for years to come.
- Instructional Legacy: This type of legacy focuses on imparting knowledge and wisdom. It could involve mentoring others, writing a book, teaching life skills, or passing on professional expertise. Instructional legacies can shape the mindset and capabilities of the next generation, leaving an intellectual and emotional inheritance.
- Values and Life Lessons: For many, the most significant legacy is the one passed through stories, values, and lessons learned. You can leave a legacy by living authentically according to your beliefs, showing kindness, empathy, and teaching the importance of these traits. This kind of legacy is often conveyed through daily interactions and the principles you impart to your family, friends, and community.
- Wish Fulfillment: Another form of legacy can be about helping others fulfill their dreams or realize their potential. This can mean creating opportunities for others through scholarships, support systems, or mentorship, allowing individuals to pursue goals they might not have otherwise achieved.
Creating Your Legacy: A Framework
Leaving a meaningful legacy doesn’t happen overnight. It requires thought, strategy, and effort to ensure that what you leave behind continues to have a lasting impact. Here’s a framework to help you shape the legacy you wish to leave:
- Create Your Vision: Before you begin, it’s essential to have a clear vision of the legacy you want to create. Start by reflecting on what you value and care about most. Consider the passions that drive you, the causes that inspire you, and the unique skills or experiences you bring to the table. It can be helpful to involve trusted friends and family in these reflections—they may offer perspectives you hadn’t considered or recognize strengths you overlook in yourself.
- Define Your Legacy: Once you’ve considered what matters to you, think about the specific legacy you wish to leave. Is it financial? Do you want to ensure your family’s financial security or support charitable causes you care about? Or is it about leaving behind your knowledge, values, or perhaps even creating an organization that will continue your work? Your legacy can be as broad or specific as you choose, and it may evolve over time as your values and priorities shift.
- Develop a Strategy: A vision without a plan may never come to fruition. Developing a clear strategy is essential to bring your legacy to life. If your legacy is financial, this might include setting up trusts, endowments, or charitable donations. For an instructional or value-based legacy, this could mean writing down life lessons, setting aside time for mentorship, or recording personal stories to share with future generations. Establish timelines, resources, and actionable steps to keep you on track.
- Live Your Legacy: Legacy isn’t just about what happens after you’re gone. It’s the impact you make on others while you’re alive that often carries the most weight. By living your values every day—with your family, at work, and in your community—you are already shaping the legacy that others will carry forward. Your actions, words, and how you treat others are all part of the legacy you leave behind. Be intentional about making a positive difference in the lives you touch now, and the effects of that will naturally extend into the future.
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”
– Shannon L. Alder
Investment Advisory Services offered through Trek Financial LLC., an (SEC) Registered Investment Advisor. Information presented is for educational purposes only. It should not be considered specific investment advice, does not take into consideration your specific situation, and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and are not guaranteed, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. For specific tax advice on any strategy, consult with a qualified tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Trek 24-327