There is a growing conversation in the UK about intergenerational planning, the movement of wealth from one generation to the next. We often talk about the numbers involved, the tax implications, and the sheer scale of wealth transfer expected over the coming decades.

But one part is frequently overlooked:
Wealth may transfer easily.
Wisdom does not.

Many young adults will inherit money long before they inherit the skills to manage it. And this is where financial planners have a genuine, untapped opportunity to make a difference.

A Lesson From the Local Bank Manager

In Money and Meaning, I share how one of the biggest influences on my early relationship with money was my local bank manager. He helped me open my first account, talked me through a car loan, and was simply there when I needed guidance.

The loyalty that created lasted decades, I still bank with the same institution, even though the name above the door has changed more than once.

What stayed with me wasn’t the products.
It was the relationship.

And that’s the lesson financial planners can apply today.

Why Many Firms Miss the Intergenerational Opportunity

Most financial planners don’t actively seek out clients in their late teens or twenties.
That’s understandable, there’s little revenue to be made from someone who’s just opened a student account or is saving £50 a month.

But that mindset misses the bigger picture.

Your highest-value clients have children and grandchildren who, one day, will inherit substantial assets. And those young adults will seek financial guidance, from someone.

If that “someone” isn’t you, it will be someone else.

What Financial Planners Can Do—With Minimal Time and Effort

Intergenerational planning doesn’t need to be heavy, technical, or time-consuming. In fact, the most powerful impact often comes from the simplest support.

Here are practical ideas firms can implement:

1. Offer short guidance sessions for your clients’ children or grandchildren

Not a full advice service—just a 20–30 minute conversation to cover:
• budgeting basics
• heading to university
• saving for a first home
• understanding credit
• the benefits of ISAs and pensions

Small conversations have lifelong impact.

2. Create simple, accessible guides

Short, friendly one-page explainers on:
• how ISAs work
• why starting a pension early matters
• the concept of compound interest
• where to find straightforward, low-cost products

These can be printed, emailed, or shared during family meetings.

3. Help them set up their first financial steps

Nothing regulated, nothing complex—just guiding them towards:
• opening a savings account
• building an emergency fund
• starting a Lifetime ISA
• contributing to a workplace pension

A small nudge at 18 can be worth more than complex planning at 48.

4. Host a “Next Generation” event

Even an informal webinar or workshop for families can deepen relationships across generations and position the firm as a long-term partner.

Trust Is Earned Long Before Wealth Arrives

The heart of intergenerational planning is simple:
People stick with the professionals who took the time to care about them when nobody else did.

If a young person knows who you are, has spoken to you, and feels looked after, then when their time comes, whether that’s managing an inheritance, buying a home, or navigating early career finances, they will turn to the planner who already helped them.

You may not gain assets today.
But you gain something far more valuable:
future loyalty, future trust, and future relevance.

Intergenerational planning is not a strategy for tomorrow—it’s a relationship you build today.