The Inheritance Your Kids Need More Than Money — and 5 Ways to Pass It On

An older woman and her adult daughter look at paperwork together at the kitchen table.

As the saying goes, "You're only as happy as your least-happy child." Any parent or grandparent knows how true that feels.

We may spend a lifetime building financial security, saving for retirement, buying insurance and drafting detailed estate plans. Some families even create spreadsheets spelling out who gets the wedding ring, the family home, the brokerage account, the antique table or the emerald earrings.