Giving While Living: Why More Families Are Gifting Now

True wealth is the ability to use your resources purposefully — to enrich lives, not just balance sheets.

At Strategic Wealth Partners, more and more families in and around Kingston upon Thames are asking a deeply important question:

“How much is too much?”

It’s a wonderful question because it recognises that wealth isn’t only about what you have, but what you choose to do with it. For many, the idea of “giving while living” — passing on wealth during their lifetime — is becoming more appealing than leaving a large inheritance later on.

We often begin by exploring “How much is enough?”, helping clients gain confidence in knowing they have the resources to live the life they want. Increasingly, though, families are asking, “How much is too much?” — how much to give, and when.

Finding the balance between enough and too much is central to living, giving, and leaving with purpose.

Key Insights

🎁 Giving while living allows you to witness your generosity making a real difference.

💬 Open conversations about money can strengthen family relationships and align values.

💷 Lifetime gifting can form part of a smart Inheritance Tax strategy.

🧠 Emotional clarity helps ensure your giving is joyful, not anxious.

More Families Are Asking: “How Much Is Too Much?”

It’s a brilliant question — because it acknowledges that wealth isn’t just about what you have, but what you do with it. Increasingly, families want to give not just eventually, but intentionally, while they’re still here to see the benefits.

Of course, we still begin by exploring “How much is enough?” That’s the bedrock of any financial plan. But once you know you’re financially secure, it opens the door to another powerful idea: giving with heart and purpose.

Why Give Now?

There are many reasons why successful professionals like you are choosing to pass on wealth sooner rather than later.

Seeing the Impact First-Hand — Whether it’s helping your children onto the property ladder, funding a grandchild’s education, or backing a family venture, giving while living means you get to see the difference your support makes — in real time.

Strengthening Family Bonds — Discussing money can feel difficult, but handled well, it becomes a chance to bring the family together. These conversations help align values, set expectations, and build trust across generations.

Tax-Efficient Planning — Gifting can play a valuable role in your Inheritance Tax planning. From your annual gifting allowance to Potentially Exempt Transfers (PETs) and even trusts, giving early can help reduce your estate’s tax burden — without compromising your financial independence.

Emotional Fulfilment — This isn’t just about tax. It’s about joy, legacy, and intentional generosity. Knowing that your wealth is actively supporting the people and causes you care about can be incredibly meaningful.

“How Much Is Too Much?”

It’s natural to worry about giving too much or too soon. That’s why we use tools like cash flow modelling to help you understand the financial implications of any gift before you make it.

You’ll see clearly how a gift affects your future lifestyle, allowing you to give with confidence, not fear.

We believe that true generosity begins with clarity. Once you know you have enough, you’re free to give with purpose — and that’s a powerful place to be.

Final Thoughts

Your lifetime gifting might take many forms, including:

• Helping adult children purchase their first home

• Backing grandchildren through school and university

• Supporting charitable causes that reflect your values

• Helping loved ones navigate major life transitions, such as divorce or illness

But the most powerful gifts are not just financial. They also include your wisdom, support and presence. You’re not just transferring assets — you’re passing on your values and your vision for what a good life looks like.

At Strategic Wealth Partners, we work with clients in Kingston upon Thames and across the UK to build purposeful and resilient financial plans. That includes a strategy for giving that fits seamlessly into your broader financial picture.

Gifting during your lifetime is one of the most profound expressions of love and purpose. When done with clarity and care, it becomes a way to build stronger families, better futures, and a meaningful legacy.

If you’re ready to explore your own lifetime gifting strategy, we’d love to help. Let’s build a financial plan where your wealth not only supports your lifestyle — but enriches the lives of others, too.

For a more detailed discussion on this topic, please feel free to contact us. Our team are always available to answer your questions and to help you with any of your financial planning needs. Here’s what we offer: A cup of coffee… and a second opinion.

Client Stories

"The trust and feeling of comfort has grown over the eight years since our first meeting."

"They are good listeners and make thoughtful recommendations that are relevant to what we are trying to accomplish in our lives."

"Working with them on my long-term financial plan has been a source of comfort since my husband's passing."

Our job is to make sure that every decision you make moves you closer to your goals.

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