Your Legacy — Turning Success Into Significance
January 20, 2026 •
By the time you reach Rung 7 on the BuiltWealth™ ladder, the money side has been handled.
The lifestyle is secure. The business has been sold or passed down.
So the questions start to shift.
It’s no longer: Do I have enough?
Now it becomes: What do I want this money to do beyond me?
That’s the heart of Rung 7 on the BuiltWealth Ladder™. You made it to the top, now let’s make sure what you built continues to do good, long after you’ve stepped back.
Defining What Legacy Means to You
Legacy looks different for every business owner.
For some, it’s about maximizing what goes to the next generation — helping kids and grandkids build their own version of success.
For others, it’s about giving back to the community that supported them — maybe through a foundation, a donor-advised fund, or quietly funding causes that matter most.
And often, it’s both.
The real work in this phase is clarifying what matters most.
Do you want to leave more dollars, or more impact?
Do you want to pass assets, or pass values?
When we sit down with families at this stage, the conversations get deep — and honestly, that’s where the most meaningful planning begins.
The Tools That Carry Vision Forward
Once you’re clear on what you want this next chapter to look like, the mechanics fall into place.
That might include:
- Estate and trust design that keeps things smooth and tax-efficient.
- Charitable structures like foundations or donor-advised funds that make giving easy and intentional.
- Family education and stewardship planning — preparing the next generation before they inherit wealth, not after.
The goal isn’t just to move money. It’s to build a system that reflects what you care about and keeps that vision alive for decades.
More Than Dollars and Documents
We’ve seen this time and again: a financial inheritance without guidance can do more harm than good.
That’s why the best legacy plans go beyond paperwork. They include conversations — about values, discipline, generosity, and gratitude.
Teaching your family how to handle money, but also why you made the choices you did, is powerful. It helps them see wealth not as an entitlement, but as a tool.
The most enduring legacies combine resources and wisdom.
They say: “Here’s what we built, and here’s why we built it.”
The Goal of the Legacy Phase
By this point in the BuiltWealth™ Ladder, your wealth is preserved, multiplied, and directed with intention. It fuels the people and causes you care about, and it keeps working long after you stop.
You’ve turned a business into a legacy. One that honors your work, your values, and your family.
So, What’s Next?
The final step on the Ladder is keeping it all coordinated over time and continuing to communicate that.
Because wealth planning isn’t a one-and-done project. It’s a living system that evolves with you. So take the time to sit down as a family and with your advisory circle and talk about it. We help facilitate those conversations with our clients. And we can help you get started with them too:
1) What do we want our family to be known for?
2) Who’s comfortable stepping into a financial leadership role in the family?
3) What matters most to us all when it comes to money: security, generosity, independence, or something else?
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HFM Investment Advisors, LLC is a registered investment adviser. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. All investments involve risk and are not guaranteed. Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives and is not intended as a recommendation appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment advisor to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
