As we march toward America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, our America 250 Legacy Series continues! Every Friday, we bridge the gap between the visionaries of 1776 and your family’s future in 2026.
This week, we look to the ultimate polymath: Benjamin Franklin. While he is famous for flying kites and inventing bifocals, Franklin was also a master of long-term thinking. In his will, he didn’t just leave assets; he created “living legacies.” He famously left £1,000 each to the cities of Boston and Philadelphia, stipulating that the funds be invested and not fully distributed for 200 years!
Franklin understood that a legacy isn’t just about what you leave behind, but what you set in motion. The Lesson for Today: Legacy is more than a one-time gift; it’s a strategy. Franklin knew that with the right structure, a modest contribution could grow to benefit generations he would never meet. Whether it’s setting up a college fund for your grandkids or establishing a charitable trust, your estate plan is the engine that drives your values into the future.
Don’t just leave an inheritance but design a legacy that works as hard as you do. Join us next Friday as we continue our countdown to the Semiquincentennial. Let’s make sure your “founding documents” are as innovative and enduring as Ben’s.