Gifting vs Inheritance

[SecondCor521]

Thank you for the thoughtful reply.

I agree that dealing with your own children may be different than more distant relatives.

I am a bit under the weather this week so I missed the logical option that although I am giving money to my kids early, the statement could generically apply to giving money to folks other than kids - more distant relatives as you say, or even friends or acquaintances. My mistake, but I appreciate the point.

In my case for #1 and #2 I am still glad that I was able to make the offers rather than having pre-given the money to more distant relatives with unknown outcomes.

-gauss

That was part of my calculus this time. For me it was simple though - I didn't want to give the money to anyone else, and I didn't need to keep it. So it really boils down to a question of timing. I've decided for myself that trying to give some now is (hopefully) at least not the worst option in the world.