EP334: The Greatest Wealth Transfer Explained: Women Are About to Get RICH (Or Lose It All)

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Right now, as you watch this video, $124 trillion is changing hands through wealth transfers. That’s the biggest money move in history.

But here’s the scary truth: women are about to get most of this money… and they could lose it all.

We’re not trying to scare you.

But these numbers will blow your mind.

$54 trillion will go to widows by 2048. 🥵🥵

That’s more than 95% going to women.

That’s twice as much money as our entire country makes in a year.

But here’s what banks don’t want you to know: 8 out of 10 women say getting this money was a nightmare.

They faced huge problems. They lost money to taxes. Some lost big chunks of what they inherited.

Now, we know this because we’ve studied this issue extensively.

We’re the Kitti Sisters, and we run a $400 million multifamily investment firm.

👉 We’re on track to reach $10 billion in the next 5 years. But more importantly, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when women inherit wealth – both the successes and the disasters.

In this video, we’ll show you five big mistakes that could cost women trillions.

We’ll show you the traps that even rich families fall into. And most important, we’ll give you the exact steps to protect yourself and your family’s money – the same strategies we use with our high-net-worth clients.

But first, let me show you just how big this money transfer really is. The numbers will shock you.

How Big This Money Move Really Is

Let us paint you a picture of what’s happening right now.

Think of this like the world’s biggest relay race.

Baby boomers have been running with the baton for 80 years, building more wealth than any generation ever. Everyone assumes they’ll hand the baton straight to millennials at the finish line. But there’s actually another runner in between – the wives. They get the baton first.

Here’s scary the truth: the average woman becomes a widow in her late fifties.

Women live about five years longer than men. That means women end up controlling the household money.

By 2030, women will control almost half of all money in America and Europe.

We’re talking about $34 trillion in the US alone.

But the worst part? Right now, 53% of women’s money sits there doing nothing. It’s not invested. It’s not growing. Compare that to men – only 45% of their money sits idle.

This is either a $10 trillion opportunity… or a $10 trillion disaster waiting to happen.

The Five Big Mistakes

Now, let us walk you through five mistakes that could cost women trillions.

We’ve studied hundreds of cases. These patterns show up again and again.

Mistake #1: Nobody Talks About Money

We’ve seen this heartbreak up close with our own investors.

When their husbands tragically passed away, these women were left completely in the dark about their own investments in our multifamily apartments.

Picture this: you’re grieving the loss of your life partner.

And on top of that emotional pain, you’re scrambling to figure out basic questions. What investments did he make? How do I access them? Who do I call? How do I get ownership transferred to my name? How do I even log into the investor portal?

These should be simple things.

But when you’re mourning, even simple things feel impossible. No woman should have to navigate financial confusion while her heart is breaking.

Remember how we said 8 out of 10 women have problems when they inherit money?

The number one reason?

Nobody talked about it beforehand.

Here are the shocking numbers: 56% of married women let their husbands make all the investment decisions.

Only 25% of couples ever talk about passing money to their kids.

Even worse, 38% of women say they’ll never have these conversations. Think about that. Almost 4 out of 10 women are walking blind into the biggest money event of their lives.

Only 12% of women have talked to a financial advisor about inheritance. That means 88% are totally unprepared.

Let us tell you about Sarah.

Her dad owned a successful business. He never talked about money. Never shared details. When he died suddenly, Sarah found out he had business accounts she’d never heard of. Complex investments.

It took her two years and $50,000 in legal fees just to figure out what she inherited. She lost 15% of her inheritance just to paperwork and delays.

Mistake #2: The Boys Club Problem

Here’s something we’ve noticed: men and women have completely different energy around money discussions.

Most investment rooms feel like locker rooms – all testosterone and competition. ‘Look at my returns! Check out my deal! Who’s the biggest player here?’

We’ve watched incredibly smart, successful women walk into these rooms and immediately feel the vibe. Some get intimidated. But many others just think, ‘I don’t need this energy in my life.’ So they opt out entirely.

And that’s the tragedy.

These women aren’t less capable – they’re often more thoughtful investors than the loudest guys in the room. But they’d rather skip the opportunity than deal with the atmosphere.

Here’s a number that’ll blow your mind: only 23% of financial advisors are women. In Europe, it’s even worse – just 18-20%.

But it gets deeper. Look at the people who run investment deals. Whether it’s businesses, apartment buildings, or tech startups – most are men.

The numbers are crazy. Only 16% of venture capital partners are women. In private equity, just 11% of senior people are women. In real estate investing, only 9% of senior roles go to women.

This creates a huge problem.

Women are entering an investment world built by men, for men. The decision-makers don’t understand how women think or what they want.

But here’s the thing. This is what makes us, the Kitti Sisters, the turquoise fish in a sea of goldfish. We stand out because we’re different. As women in investing, we bring something the male world lacks. We understand women’s challenges because we’ve lived them.

Research shows something amazing. Companies with at least one woman making investment decisions beat all-male teams by 1.76% every year. Teams with both men and women beat all-male teams by even more.

But here’s the problem. Most advisors still think the husband makes all the money decisions. They build relationships with husbands, not wives. So when the husband dies, the wife feels disconnected from her own financial advisor.

Get this: 7 out of 10 women fire their financial advisor within one year of their husband’s death.

Mistake #3: Playing It Too Safe

Women get called ‘scared of risk.’

That’s not true. Women are smart about risk. They think before they act. But this can become a trap.

Here are the numbers: Women keep 68% of their money in cash and bonds. Men keep 59%. That sounds safe, right? Wrong. It’s actually risky in a different way.inflatio

Here’s the math that’ll shock you. Say you inherit a million dollars.

You put it in a savings account earning 1%. But inflation is running 3-4%. You’re losing $30,000-$40,000 in buying power every year. Over five years, that’s $150,000-$200,000 in lost wealth. Just from being ‘safe.’

Women’s portfolios make 0.4% less than men’s every year.

Not because women make bad choices. Because they hold too much cash. On a $2 million inheritance, that costs $8,000 per year. Over 25 years, that’s $200,000 lost.

Here’s the crazy part. When women do invest, they beat men. 🤓🤓

They make 0.4% more because they don’t trade as much. They stick to their plans. But holding too much cash wipes out this advantage.

So, what does this mean for women’s collective inheritance of $10 trillion — that is sitting idly in savings accounts. Sounds safe, right? Here’s the problem:

➡️ Inflation right now averages about 3% a year.

➡️ That means every year, the real value of that $10 trillion shrinks by $300 billion.

To put it in perspective:

➡️ In 10 years, that untouched $10 trillion would lose about $2.6 trillion in purchasing power.

➡️ In 20 years, it’s down by nearly $4.9 trillion.

➡️ In 30 years (a single generation), the original $10 trillion would effectively only buy about $4 trillion worth of goods and services.

That means that in 30 years:

A $1 saved will be worth only $.41

$10 saved will be worth only $4.10

$100 saved will be worth only $41.00

$1,000 saved will be worth only $410.00

$10,000 saved will be worth only $4,100.00

$100,000 saved will be worth only $41,000

$1,000,000 saved will be worth only $410,000

So, without doing anything wrong, just by leaving money idle, women could see almost 60% of their inheritance erased by inflation.

And I’d be remiss not to remind you that, 3% is on a good year, remember 2022, 2023? During the peak, inflation was at 9+%.  

Mistake #4: The Tax Monster

This is where families get destroyed.

Most people don’t know that inheritance can trigger huge tax bills.

Right now, you don’t pay federal estate taxes unless you inherit more than $13.61 million.

But that drops to about $6-7 million in 2026 unless Congress changes it.

But estate taxes are just the start. Here are the hidden tax traps:

If you inherit stocks, you get a tax break called ‘stepped-up basis.’ If your parents bought stock for $100,000 and it’s worth $1 million when they die, you get it at the $1 million value for taxes.

But if you inherit an IRA worth $1 million, there’s no tax break. You have to take out all the money within 10 years. That could push you into higher tax brackets.

Twelve states have their own estate taxes. Some start at just $1 million. New York has a ‘cliff’ rule. If your estate goes over $6.11 million by even $1, the entire estate gets taxed, not just the extra.

If money goes to grandchildren, there’s an extra 40% tax on amounts over $12.92 million.

We’ve seen women inherit $2 million and end up with only $1.2 million after taxes. The other $800,000? Gone to taxes that could have been avoided.

Poor planning costs American families $40 billion every year in unnecessary taxes.

That’s $40 billion that could have stayed with families.

Mistake #5: Feeling All Alone

When women inherit wealth, they often feel isolated. Friends treat them differently. The family acts weird. They don’t know who to trust. Everyone wants to sell them something.

The numbers are scary. 70% of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation. 90% lose it by the third generation. One big reason? Bad decisions made while feeling alone.

76% of wealthy women say financial professionals don’t understand them. 58% of widows wish they’d been more involved in money decisions while married.

This loneliness leads to bad choices. Some women give away too much too fast to avoid feeling uncomfortable. Wealthy women give away 89% more to charity than wealthy men. Being generous is great, but giving away inheritance without planning can leave women broke.

Others freeze up and make no decisions at all. 41% of wealthy women keep more than 20% of their money in cash. That’s way too much.

Both approaches can be devastating. Women over 65 have average retirement savings of just $115,000. Men have $199,000. Part of this gap comes from poor money management during these critical times.

This is exactly why we created the WealthBeyondMe community. As the Kitti Sisters, we started this community because we understand what women go through with wealth. We’ve been there. We know what it’s like to be in a room led by two women. To have people question our expertise. To navigate an industry that wasn’t built for us.

Our WealthBeyondMe community gives women a safe place to learn and share experiences.

It’s not just about money. It’s about knowing you’re not alone.

Mistake #6 The Family Office Trap

As wealth moves to women, we’re seeing more family offices. These are teams of professionals that manage rich families’ money. The family office industry will be worth $5.4 trillion by 2030.

Sounds great, right? But here’s the problem: it’s still a boys club. Only 32% of family office workers are women. Just 23% hold senior investment jobs.

Women entering this world often find themselves as the only woman in the room. They deal with investment strategies that don’t match their values. 84% of women care about investing in good causes. Only 67% of men do. But traditional family offices are slow to change.

Mistake #7 The Generation Gap

Here’s something interesting. Young women getting inheritance want completely different things than their parents did.

They want transparency. They want impact.

They want control. But the wealth transfer systems were built for a different generation.

83% of millennial women want their investments to match their values.

Only 45% of baby boomer women feel this way. This creates family fights. I’ve seen families torn apart because the daughter wants to invest in clean energy while the old advisors push oil stocks.

Mistake #8 The Scam Problem

This breaks my heart. Women, especially older women, get targeted by financial scams.

Women over 60 lose an average of $35,000 per scam. But for inheritance-related scams, the average loss jumps to $83,000.

Romance scams alone cost victims $547 million in 2021.

Women lose money 2.5 times more than men. When you’re dealing with inheritance money, these numbers can be catastrophic.

The scammers are getting smart. They’re not just the Nigerian prince emails anymore. They create fake investment opportunities. Romance scams that lead to financial manipulation. Even fake family emergencies designed to steal women’s inheritance.

The Solution Plan

Okay, so we’ve covered the problems. Now let’s talk solutions. I’m going to give you a plan that can protect you and your family.

1️⃣ Take Control Now – Don’t Wait

This is huge: you cannot wait until you inherit to start learning. Women need to take control of their money education right now. While their parents or spouses are still alive and can help.

Don’t wait for a crisis. If you’re married, you need to be part of every money decision today. If your parents are getting older, you need to have hard conversations about their plans now. Not after they’re gone.

Here’s what to say: ‘Mom, Dad, I’m not asking how much money you have. But I want to understand your values about money. I want to know who your trusted advisors are. If something happens, I want to honor your wishes. But I need to know what they are.’

2️⃣ Focus on Private Markets and Real Estate

If Step 1 is about understanding the cost of inaction, Step 2 is about choosing where to act.

And here’s the truth: the public markets are crowded, volatile, and largely controlled by institutions. If women are inheriting trillions and simply putting it into the S&P 500 or a money market fund, they’re playing the exact same game that Wall Street already dominates.

Private markets — especially real estate — are different. They offer access to cash flow, tax advantages, and inflation protection in a way that most traditional investments can’t.

Think about it: when inflation rises, so does the cost of housing. That means rents go up. And if you own multifamily apartments, your income grows with inflation instead of shrinking because of it.

Plus, in the U.S., the tax code is written to reward real estate investors. Through depreciation, bonus depreciation, and 1031 exchanges, it’s possible to preserve and grow wealth in ways that stocks and bonds simply don’t allow.

This is why the ultra-wealthy have always had a disproportionate share of their money in real estate. It’s not flashy. It’s not speculative. It’s the foundation. And for women about to inherit a historic transfer of wealth, private markets — particularly multifamily real estate — represent not just an opportunity, but a necessity if the goal is to grow that wealth instead of watching it erode.

3️⃣ Become Your Own Money Expert

Here’s a secret: the confidence gap between men and women completely disappears when women know more about money. So start learning now. Read money books. Take courses. Go to seminars. The more you know, the harder it becomes for someone to take advantage of you.

But don’t just learn about stocks and bonds. Focus on what the wealthy actually use: private markets, real estate investing, and tax strategies. These are the real tools rich families use to keep and grow their wealth for generations.

Think of it like learning to drive. You wouldn’t get behind the wheel of a car without knowing how to operate it. So why would you handle a million-dollar inheritance without knowing how money really works?

4️⃣ Assemble Your Dream Team

You can’t do this alone. And you shouldn’t have to. You need a team of professionals who have your back.

Your team should include: advisors who understands women and private market investments, an estate planning lawyer, a tax professional who knows real estate inside and out, and maybe a family office if you have enough wealth.

But here’s the secret sauce: make sure some of your team members are women or have tons of experience working with female investors.

Research proves diverse teams make better decisions. Plus, you want people who actually understand how you think and what matters to you.

Remember, you’re not just hiring expertise. You’re building relationships with people who will guide you through some of the biggest financial decisions of your life.

5️⃣ Write Your Money Mission Statement

Before you inherit a single dollar, you need to know what you want to do with it. This isn’t just about numbers – it’s about your values and your vision for the future.

Ask yourself: Do you care about investing in companies that do good in the world? Do you want to support certain causes? Are you interested in real estate, private equity, or other alternatives? Do you want to create a legacy for your children?

Write this down. Create what fancy people call an Investment Policy Statement. That’s just a document that spells out your goals, how much risk you can handle, and how you want to divide up your investments.

This becomes your North Star. When emotions run high – and they will – you can look at this document and remember what you really wanted to accomplish.

6️⃣ Build Your Scam-Proof Shield

This might be the most important step of all. Scammers target women with inherited wealth like sharks smell blood in the water.

Here’s your protection plan: Never make money decisions under pressure. Ever. Always check out investment opportunities independently. Be suspicious of anyone who contacts you out of the blue about your inheritance. When in doubt, ask your professional team.

Watch out for these red flags: guaranteed returns that seem too good to be true, pressure to invest right away, requests for upfront fees, and investments that promise the moon and stars.

Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.

And remember, this is exactly why communities like WealthBeyondMe exist.

We give you trusted resources and a network of women who understand your journey. You don’t have to figure this out alone. We’ve got your back. 💪

The Big Picture

Here’s the bottom line: we’re watching the largest transfer of wealth in human history.

Women are at the center of it.

This could be the greatest opportunity for female financial power ever… or it could be a disaster that sets women back for generations.

The choice is yours. But you have to act now. Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of a wealth transfer crisis to start preparing. Don’t wait until you inherit to start learning about private markets, apartment buildings, and alternative investments. The families that succeed are the ones that start planning today.

Remember what we said at the beginning: $124 trillion is changing hands.

Women will control most of it. But only the women who take control now, who educate themselves about private markets, and who build the right support systems will actually benefit from this historic opportunity.

Think about it this way: You could generate 6-8% annual cash flow plus 50-60% upside when they sell, while getting massive tax breaks.

Or you could leave your inheritance in a savings account earning 1% while inflation eats away 3-4% every year. Which would you choose?

The math is clear. The opportunity is huge. But the window won’t stay open forever.

The question isn’t whether this wealth transfer will happen – it’s already happening.

The question is: will you be ready?

If this video opened your eyes to how big this is, I need you to share it with every woman in your life. Your mother, your sisters, your daughters, your friends – they all need to see this information.

And if you want to dive deeper into apartment building investing and other private market strategies designed for women, check out our WealthBeyondMe community.

As the Kitti Sisters, we built this community to help women navigate exactly these challenges. 🤍

We understand what it’s like to be the turquoise fish in a sea of goldfish.

We want to help you stand out too.

Don’t let this historic opportunity pass you by. Don’t become another statistic of women who lost their inheritance to poor planning, high taxes, or predatory advisors.

The time to take control is now. Your financial future – and your family’s legacy – depends on what you do today.

And if you’re ready to see exactly how we’d build a real estate business today—if we had to start over from scratch—then we’ll see you in the next video.