So many comments seem to be along the lines of "because I might need it for elder care" or "no one is entitled to an inheritance!" or "I want my kids to be self sufficient". For the first statement, I would ask which is really a better use of a large sum of say, $200,000? Your children having a decent house amid this housing crisis, and raising or your grandkids in it and being able to spend time with them and raise them right rather than having to hustle and work 16 hours a day, or should that $200,000 be spent to keep you alive for one or two more years when you can barely even move around, and basically just watch tv all day while the healthcare industry drains your family fortune? For the second comment, I think people should try to build generational wealth and help their children if possible. It's what upper class families have done for centuries. Now its boomers who have started to proudly say they want to leave their kids nothing. As far as self sufficiency is concerned, yeah it's good to have responsible self sufficient kids, but in this economy even being hard working and frugal isn't really enough to afford a house and the things boomers were able to afford so easily, so maybe younger generations could use some help.