Brenda Lyle – Florida Today
Q: How can I leave a legacy for my children?
A:Creating a legacy for your grandchildren is a meaningful, personal act that ensures your values, wisdom, and history continue to influence future generations. It involves thoughtful planning, intentional actions, and a deep understanding of what you want to pass down. Here are some key steps and considerations to help you build a lasting legacy for your grandchildren.
Clarify Your Values and Principles
Your legacy begins with your core values. Reflect on the principles that have guided your life—integrity, kindness, perseverance, faith, or education. Clearly articulating these values allows you to pass on a foundation of moral and ethical guidance. You might consider writing down your beliefs or sharing stories from your life that exemplify these principles. These narratives can serve as powerful lessons for your grandchildren.
Establish Financial and Educational Foundations
Financial planning is a practical way to create a lasting legacy. Set up a savings or investment account. Endow a family scholarship that demonstrates the importance of continuing education. Whole life insurance can be gifted to grandchildren when they are grown. Policies grow in cash value and could provide your grandchildren with resources for their future education. New York Life agent, Bonnie Whipple, specializes in providing life insurance, long-term care insurance and retirement planning.
“Legacy isn’t just about what you leave behind—it’s about what you build today,” said Whipple. We help families protect their loved ones, grow their wealth with purpose, and create a legacy that reflects their values for generations to come. Through personalized life protection and holistic financial guidance, we walk alongside you every step of the way.”
Document Your Wisdom and Life Lessons
Writing a memoir or recording video messages can be invaluable gifts. Amazon sells numerous memoir workbooks and guides with question and answer prompts. Recordings can include your life story, lessons learned, advice, or reflections on important historical moments. Such documents are treasures your grandchildren can revisit, gaining insight into your experiences and the values you wish to impart. Digital archives or family websites can serve as repositories for these stories.
Foster Personal Relationships and Mentorship
Beyond tangible assets, your presence and involvement are vital. Leading by example—volunteering, helping neighbors, or contributing to community projects—teaches the importance of kindness and social responsibility.
Creating a legacy for your grandchildren is a process that combines financial planning, sharing personal stories, passing on values, and nurturing relationships. It’s about more than material possessions; it’s about instilling a sense of identity, purpose, and love that endures beyond your lifetime. For more information, go to OneSeniorPlace.com or visit locations in Viera and Altamonte Springs.
Brenda Lyle is a Certified Care Manager and Certified Dementia Practitioner with One Senior Place, Greater Orlando. One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their families. Submit your questions to AskOSP@OneSeniorPlace.com. For immediate help, call 321-751-6771 or visit One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging.
