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Is the Wealth Transfer Bus Finally Leaving The Station?Is the Wealth Transfer Bus Finally Leaving The Station?

Robert F. Sharpe, Jr. shares why he believes it’s time to prepare for what truly may be a Golden Age of Philanthropy.

Robert F. Sharpe, Jr, CEO

October 22, 2021

13 Min Read
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After more than 20 years of commentators heralding the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in the history of the world, it appears that the disappointing start to the transfer that was first announced in 19981 has finally ended, and the much vaunted transfer is now accelerating at a pace that isn’t expected to peak until the mid-2040s.

While the ramifications of this ongoing transfer will be broad and deep in the macro world of financial and estate planning, let’s focus on aspects of the expected impact of the wealth transfer on philanthropy in coming years. It may be time for professional advisors to reconsider how they may best serve their philanthropically inclined individual and organizational clients in ways that are most ef...

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About the Author

Robert F. Sharpe, Jr

CEO, Encore

Robert F. Sharpe, Jr. is CEO of Encore in Memphis, Tenn. He is a nationally recognized pioneer, leader and authority in the field of philanthropy. During more than 35 years serving America’s nonprofit community, he has consulted nationally with educational, health, social service, arts and religious organizations and institutions in the planning and implementation of their major, planned gift and endowment development efforts. A graduate of Vanderbilt University and Cornell Law School, he served as a development officer for a liberal arts college prior to practicing law with a major law firm specializing in taxation and estate planning.

Robert is chairman of the philanthropy editorial board of Trusts & Estates magazine and co-author of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP) Model Standards of Gift Valuation. He has served on the board of Giving USA and on strategic task forces for the CGP. Among other publications, his remarks have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Newsweek, Forbes, Smart Money, The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Kiplinger’s.

He is a frequent speaker at gatherings across the country including Planned Giving Councils in New York, Washington, Chicago, and Los Angeles, the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners national conference, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) National Conference, and the American Bankers Association Wealth Management and Trust Conference.