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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that many people would wonder/fantasise about this potential inheritance?

184 replies

Tiltedandwilted · 27/12/2022 18:15

Am posting for some external perspective.

DH and I come from very different families in terms of attitudes to money, my family are very open about money, I’ve always known what was in my parents wills, my grandparents wills, when my grandfather came into some money we had a family get together to discuss who was getting what in terms of my cousins and I etc.

DHs family are much more old fashioned and finances are akin to a state secret.

Now here is where the AIBU comes into play, DHs grandparents are extremely wealthy, they don’t ‘act’ it, there are small tells ( e.g.his grandfather if he pays for lunch opens his wallet and there is often £5k of cash in there!) but they don’t live in a mansion or eat caviar, although they definitely could afford to if they wanted. If you knew them you’d think upper middle class maybe, but not wealthy.

We get snippets of information as DHs grandfather talks to him about investments from time to time, they have ‘several’ BVIs, to make offshore accounts worthwhile you need millions in there, let alone to justify multiple of them. His work pension requires a team of accountants to manage it efficiently and they were approached a few months ago by one of their financial advisers to buy 25 luxury apartments in London, DH manages London properties so his grandfather asked him about it (only way we know this bit)

So although no one in the family knows how much there is, we know there is a lot (DH was also asked to look over the paperwork when his grandfather sold his last company and it sold for £15 million in 2007, so that’s the ‘minimum’ that is there, but he had 22 other companies throughout his lifetime and sold them all for nice amounts apparently over the course of the 90’s)

AIBU to think it’s only normal to wonder, if not fantasise about this when you know there is a potentially life changing amount of money out there that could be left to grand children (and by extension you)

Obviously the obligatory we know it’s their money, we don’t have a right to any of it and they might leave it all to a cat sanctuary, but I don’t think I ABU to wonder about it, like when people dream about winning the lottery, if it was a couple of hundred grand I’d not think about it, but I can’t imagine many people, knowing there could be tens of millions+ left to their husband/wife that wouldn’t think about it from time to time.

DH thinks it’s morbid to think about it at all and doesn’t care one way or another, as although they are well off they are somewhat tight with their cash and seem to hoard it over using it to support their family, so doesn’t pay it much attention.

YABU - I’d not pay any attention to the fact my family could be in for a windfall

YANBU - of course I’d have the odd dream about what fancy car I’d buy with all that money

OP posts:
DairyDiary · 27/12/2022 20:19

Tiltedandwilted · 27/12/2022 20:15

He is already chucking at some of these posts, especially the ones so sure they know more about the contents of a contract he and his grandfather have seen than he does, odd you think this is anything other than light hearted.

You’ve given me a right laugh tonight

Then he’s as nasty as you are and I hope they don’t give either of you a penny. And I hope your grandchildren have a nice chuckle about your death for good measure. Not nice, is it? However, that’s clearly bollocks because no DH tells you that he disapproves of you wishing his family dead but then giggles about it when you double down.

You asked, don’t get pissy because you don’t like the answer. Sounds like you need to lighten up tbh.

Bard6817 · 27/12/2022 20:19

Tiltedandwilted · 27/12/2022 20:14

Oh of course it could be, it could also be left to a one eyed donkey called Marvin.

Hence it’s called fantasising, not planning, expecting or wanting.

Thankfully out of all the family we are the ones who ‘need’ the money the least, but it’s still nice to fantasise

I’m suddenly wishing to identify as a one eyed donkey and considering a change of name…

:)

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 27/12/2022 20:19

Op could you at least buy the man a large wallet next Xmas or for his b'day?

Afterfire · 27/12/2022 20:20

AreOttersJustWetCats · 27/12/2022 20:17

Wealthy, financially savvy people don't wait until they die to pass on wealth.

Yeah or they could just be really eccentric like my Mum and give £££££ to the Dogs Trust …! 😆

Pumperthepumper · 27/12/2022 20:23

Tiltedandwilted · 27/12/2022 20:15

He is already chucking at some of these posts, especially the ones so sure they know more about the contents of a contract he and his grandfather have seen than he does, odd you think this is anything other than light hearted.

You’ve given me a right laugh tonight

Ask him how come his grandad’s standard men’s wallet holds 100 £50 notes often.

It was funny when you said his grandad was in poor health and only had approx. seven years left. No wait, not funny; tacky.

slideintomxas · 27/12/2022 20:25

I assume there is a family office in place if the level of wealth is as you suppose?
I have worked in the area of wealth management before and agree with PPs that it is highly unlikely anyone will be surprised with a sudden inheritance. Wealth management and planning is a long game.
On the other hand, I have voted YANBU because it’s harmless enough to fantasise, so long as you know the fantasy isn’t reality. And it’s almost always best to earn your own money.

Tempyname · 27/12/2022 20:25

I can understand the fantasising but it is fantasy - anything your DH or kids inherit will not necessarily benefit you either.

AreOttersJustWetCats · 27/12/2022 20:26

slideintomxas · 27/12/2022 20:25

I assume there is a family office in place if the level of wealth is as you suppose?
I have worked in the area of wealth management before and agree with PPs that it is highly unlikely anyone will be surprised with a sudden inheritance. Wealth management and planning is a long game.
On the other hand, I have voted YANBU because it’s harmless enough to fantasise, so long as you know the fantasy isn’t reality. And it’s almost always best to earn your own money.

Agree. The OP clearly knows the square route of bugger all about how genuinely wealthy people plan their estates.

RosesAndHellebores · 27/12/2022 20:27

If he's that wealthy and has financial advisers, the money should be in trust already for his beneficiaries. Grandchildren's school and uni fees, etc, for starters.

I'd be very concerned about the calibre of any professional adviser recommending investment in 25 London Properties at present.

AreOttersJustWetCats · 27/12/2022 20:28

AreOttersJustWetCats · 27/12/2022 20:26

Agree. The OP clearly knows the square route of bugger all about how genuinely wealthy people plan their estates.

^ square root! Bloody autocorrect

bibbif · 27/12/2022 20:28

I had a terrible relationship with my Mum - she was very abusive-

we're your family open about the above?

pollyglot · 27/12/2022 20:29

To be honest, OP, you don't sound a terribly nice person. You start the thread very flippantly, and then appear to become all altruistic about helping family in need. Fantasising about the death of your DH's family members is crass, frankly. You have no rights over his/their money, and remember that "many a slip twixt cup and lip" is the rule about perceived/anticipated inheritances.

Survey99 · 27/12/2022 20:30

I fantasise about what I would do with a lottery win. Maybe once a year or so (or it gets a bit boring) I look at expensive rightmove houses to see if I would buy if I win the lottery.

Doing the same for someone elses money, your dhs grandparents who would need to die (and potentially his parents too) for you to get your hands on, is exceptionally tasteless. I hope they have ring fenced it somehow so it stays in their family.

cantba · 27/12/2022 20:30

Its probably mainly already in a trust op. Or family investment companies. That kind of wealth would take significant advice. He is unlikely to pass on £ directly as will be worried about people getting divorced and walking off with half the cash.

I'm a lawyer. I have seen plenty of people take much more than £15m net from a company sale. Lots taking over £100m too (although that tends to be structured straight into other investments).

My dad would have been a similar age - wallets stuffed with cash were deffo a thing.

Bvi is not a big deal. Its not that expensive. With the new global tax direction lots of people are getting out though.

Afterfire · 27/12/2022 20:31

bibbif · 27/12/2022 20:28

I had a terrible relationship with my Mum - she was very abusive-

we're your family open about the above?

What do you mean..? Everyone knew she wasn’t very nice. And wasn’t nice to me. But we don’t have a huge family. Just me and my Mum. My mum and Dad divorced when I was 12. My mum and Gran - who was like my Mum and I was very close to- lived together until my Gran died. That’s it. No other family.

AreOttersJustWetCats · 27/12/2022 20:33

Exactly @cantba the "team of accountants" that are apparently working on the granddad's financial affairs have almost certainly advised a sensible structure that will not involve relatives just inheriting a load of cash.

BedTaker · 27/12/2022 20:34

People are joking about donkey sanctuaries, but my friends dad did exactly that - not specifically a donkey sanctuary, but his whole estste, over a million quid, divided between several very niche charities, and not a penny to any of his 3 children.

Also agree that wealth management is a lot more complex than a child/grandchild suddenly enjoying a huge windfall after someone's death.

bibbif · 27/12/2022 20:38

@Afterfire you said you family were very open about money, death, inheritance. You also said you mum abused you. I was wondering if it was in plain sight so to speak & if so why it wasn't stopped?

bibbif · 27/12/2022 20:40

With the new global tax direction lots of people are getting out though

@cantba I was reading that due to increased inequality, global initiatives would be more popular so that's interesting.

bibbif · 27/12/2022 20:42

@pollyglot but were you helped before 70? eg housing & education?

My parents aren't wealthy but we had help to buy property.

Afterfire · 27/12/2022 20:43

bibbif · 27/12/2022 20:38

@Afterfire you said you family were very open about money, death, inheritance. You also said you mum abused you. I was wondering if it was in plain sight so to speak & if so why it wasn't stopped?

Oh I see.

This was the 80s. I did go into foster care a few times and went to live with my Gran many times. I didn’t have a good childhood. My Mum was diagnosed schizophrenic and she was also an alcoholic. But she had moments of clarity - in between being sectioned - where she was able to convince people (and herself maybe) that she could be a good parent. She wasn’t. At all. But it just went round and round in cycles. My Gran moved in with us and we all 3 lived together for most of my life. I don’t want anyone to think I’m saying that someone who has schizophrenia can’t be a good parent or is automatically abusive because I don’t think that at all, it’s just one of the things my Mum struggled with alongside her being an arsehole.

I don’t want to derail the thread, and I’m sorry if I have. I have a very weird and depressing family history I guess but then many people do!

CrocodilesCry · 27/12/2022 20:43

5 grand in £50 notes (100 notes) is at least half an inch thick (thicker if the notes aren't brand new) and would weigh over a quarter of a pound.

Must be quite some wallet! I deal in a lot of cash.

Tiltedandwilted · 27/12/2022 20:45

WeAreBorg · 27/12/2022 20:15

I know you’re trying to make a valid point but I’ve now conjured an entire dystopian future scenario out of this and I’d like the film rights before you or anyone else cites “bagsy”

Similar to the plot of the box, although that was a stranger!

I bet a lot more people would do it for family than would like to admit.

OP posts:
Tiltedandwilted · 27/12/2022 20:48

cantba · 27/12/2022 20:30

Its probably mainly already in a trust op. Or family investment companies. That kind of wealth would take significant advice. He is unlikely to pass on £ directly as will be worried about people getting divorced and walking off with half the cash.

I'm a lawyer. I have seen plenty of people take much more than £15m net from a company sale. Lots taking over £100m too (although that tends to be structured straight into other investments).

My dad would have been a similar age - wallets stuffed with cash were deffo a thing.

Bvi is not a big deal. Its not that expensive. With the new global tax direction lots of people are getting out though.

Oh I don’t doubt it, hence why I use the word fantasise.

I know realistically this is a slim to none possibility, as tbh I’m pretty sure it will be left to the kids not grandchildren anyway, hence why my post is AIBU to wonder about it.

Lots of people taking this very seriously which is amusing

OP posts:
DifferentYearSameShit · 27/12/2022 20:49

it's your husbands family not your and you are being morbid