TORONTO, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new national study by the Money Wise Institute exposes a growing communication gap between Canadian parents and their children regarding inheritance, wealth transfer, and financial expectations. With potentially devastating emotional and financial implications, this silent crisis highlights a critical need for open dialogue in families across the country.
With new 25 per cent tariffs on imported vehicles and other goods adding to the cost-of-living crisis, Canadian families are under increasing financial strain. These pressures are quietly reshaping how people think about wealth, legacy, and inheritance—raising the stakes for open, honest conversations across generations.
The report, titled The Age of Broken Conversations, reveals a troubling disconnect between generations. While 80 per cent of Canadian parents intend to leave an inheritance, more than half (52%) have not discussed their plans with their children.1 At the same time, 51 per cent of Millennials and Gen Z expect to inherit wealth—but 80 per cent are uncertain about the amount or timing of these inheritances.
Silence isn’t golden
“We’re about to witness the largest wealth transfer in Canadian history—but families aren’t talking about it,” says Kelley Keehn, CEO and Co-Founder of Money Wise Institute and best-selling author …