What’s Your Legacy, Really?
- sdavis2021
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
When financial advisors talk about leaving a legacy, it’s usually about money - leaving something behind for your heirs. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, I think we’re selling the word “legacy” short when we only associate it with finances.
Let’s look at the definitions for a second. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a legacy is “an amount of money or property left to someone in a will.” That’s the first definition. But the second one is what really gets me: “the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc., that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.”
Yes, money matters. But your legacy is also how you lived. It’s what you did, what you stood for, and how you made people feel. Merriam-Webster even defines legacy as something “transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.” That can be wisdom, values, resilience, or even the way you show up in the world.
What Legacy Are You Building Right Now?
Just like I talk to clients about not only planning what they’re retiring from but also what they’re retiring to, I also think legacy isn’t something that starts when you write a will. It’s happening now. Whether you're 22 or 52, everything you do - your choices, your relationships, your energy - is shaping your legacy.
It’s how people will remember you, talk about you, and maybe even tell stories about you long after you're gone.
Personally, I hope my great-grandchildren will talk about me one day. Not just because I left them something financially, but because I left behind stories, values, and moments that mattered. I do hope to leave some generational wealth behind that’s appreciated and well-used, but more than that, I hope I made a difference. Even if it’s just in my little corner of the world, or in the lives of the people I love most.
Small Actions, Big Ripples
And that brings me to one of my favorite quotes:
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
We don’t always realize the ripple effect of our choices. A small gesture today might echo for generations. A lesson we teach our kids may become the reason our great-grandkids stand up for something important. That’s legacy too.
I’ve been watching the show This Is Us, and wow, the way they weave the story between generations is powerful. It really brings home the idea that the things we do now, the way we love, forgive, struggle, and grow, can reach far beyond our lifetime.
So, here’s my question to you:
What kind of legacy are you building today?
Not just in your financial planning, but in your relationships, your community, your choices, your presence?
You don’t have to have all the answers. But it’s worth thinking about - and it’s never too early to start building the kind of legacy that matters most to you.
If you’re starting to think about your legacy - financially or otherwise - and want a trusted guide to help you sort through the pieces, I’d love to connect.
Let’s build a plan that supports your values, protects your people, and leaves the kind of impact you’re proud of.
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