Do any of you take your inheritence (your parents) into consideration when figuring out what you will have at retirement?

I don't count it in the figure, but I know it will be there from the sale of my parent's home and savings one day. They also have a special insurance that prevents the state from taking their house should they need nursing facilities. This is something everyone's parents can find out from their financial planner; it's a huge assurance that what they've worked so hard for regarding us children will be secured.

My parents are big planners as well as my hubby's. I find it rather upsetting (they even planned their funerals; ugh). I definitely think the focus needs to be serious about what you can provide for yourselves. The rest is gravy.

Thoughts?

I have never even thought about what I will get when my parents or my mil die. I definitely do not count it as part of our retirement. I don't think you should count on anything that is not in hand.

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~Happiness is a large family~

Absolutely not. I figure it's my parents' money, and they have no obligation to leave me any of it. If they wanted to create a scholarship or something like that instead, I'd have no problem with it.

No I don't take inheritance into consideration. I figure it's their money they can spend it all before the end if they want. I don't expect anything.

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Goals for 2008:
Pay off all credit card debt
Establish savings of $1000+

I have no idea if there will be anything for me to get. They are doing fine, but still pretty young (late 40s/early 50s) so who knows what their financial situations will be when that time comes--- which I hope is not for decades!

Nope - first of all, there's not enough money/assets with either my mil or my Dad to really worry about. Second, I am the younges of 5 and dh is the youngest of 11 so splitting up what little there is by those numbers..

No. My husband's dad used to joke that his kids were his retirement plan. Then again, he just left his wife. So I've told dh "I have no problem helping your mom stay in the house. Your dad is SOL."

No , And I think that this is one of the things financial experts tell you Not to do.
I am not 100% sure on that , But I Don't Count it , Cause who Knows What can Happen Between now and then?
There are Medical Catastrophes , Law suits, Lond term care....

My parents own two homes and Are doing Well Finacially.But How do I Know what is Going to happen and they may Need to Sell the Homes and use the money for their own Needs.

I am aware of an inheritance coming to me ... but I really don't take it into consideration and try actually not to think of it as it means losing something very important to me. But, realistically, my parents are older and my father is not healthy -- so I am aware as he called me last week and dumped all of these details on me.

Can you tell I'm really not comfortable with all of this?

No. It isn't even a possibility.

My Mom passed away first - suddenly and unexpectedly. My Dad, of course, inherited all of her assets. Then my maternal grandmother passed away. She was my last remaining grandparent. My dad got my mother's share of that inheritance. Then my dad sold his house in CA (lived there over 40 years) and got remarried. He passed away less than a year later. His new wife had just been diagnosed with alzheimers. Except for a small bank account my Dad had set up for each of his children, the new wife inherited it all. I doubt her children will see any of the money, either. Just as my dad wished, it will all be spent taking care of his second wife in her final days.

It is his money he could do with it as he pleased.

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"Poor people work for their money. Rich people make their money work for them."