Retirees increasingly prioritize personal spending over inheritance

A growing trend known as ‘SKIing’—an acronym for ‘Spending the Kids’ Inheritance’—is emerging among retirees in the United Kingdom and the United States. This shift involves seniors choosing to utilize their accumulated wealth and property to fund their own lifestyles during retirement rather than preserving it for future generations.

In the United Kingdom, research from Standard Life indicates that approximately 15 percent of parents prefer to enjoy an active retirement over accumulating savings for their children. In the United States, data from Northwestern Mutual shows a decline in inheritance expectations among younger generations, with the percentage of young people expecting an inheritance dropping from 25 percent in 2024 to 20 percent projected for 2025.

In Germany, an Allianz survey of over 1,100 property owners aged over 60 presents a more cautious outlook. While one in four respondents intends to spend their assets during their lifetime, the majority—roughly 60 percent—still plan to pass at least a portion of their wealth on to children or grandchildren.