My husband and I are DINKs. It sounds like a schoolyard insult, but it’s actually shorthand for “Dual Income, No Kids.” It fits us well; it also places us in a subset of households whose financial estate planning needs don’t always follow the standard playbook. A Pew Research study found that about 12% of married couples with at least one spouse in their 30s or 40s have dual incomes and no kids. However, trends suggest a rise in the share of adults remaining childless into later life: around 18% of people in their 50s and 15% of people in their 60s reported having no children. (Note: this would also include SINKs—Single Income No Kids)
The Myth That “No Kids” Means Less Planning
When people think about financial and estate planning, the conversation often centers on children: naming guardians, creating trusts for minors, or preparing the next generation to inherit responsibly. For those who are childfree, it’s easy to assume that estate planning is simpler, or perhaps even unnecessary. In reality, the opposite is often true.
Without children, there are fewer built-in answers. The law may not reflect your wishes, and there may be no obvious person to step in if something unexpected happens. That’s why planning for childfree couples and singles is less about checking boxes and more about making intentional choices—about who’s in charge, how assets are handled, and what matters most.
Done well, estate planning brings clarity and peace of mind throughout life, not just at the end—so decisions are guided by your values, not by default rules.
What Happens If You Don’t Plan
Failing to plan can lead to unintended and burdensome outcomes.
Intestate Succession: Without a will or trust, state intestacy laws determine how assets are distributed and who administers the estate. These laws vary by state and often prioritize biological relatives, not chosen relationships. If both spouses die without a plan, assets may pass to distant relatives with whom there is little connection or, in rare cases, to the state itself.
In North Carolina, if my husband predeceases me and I die without a will, my estate will pass to my mother (if she is still living) and then to my siblings. That may be suitable, but it certainly doesn’t account for my niece, nephews, and favorite charities—all important people and entities in my life.
Incapacity: Failing to plan for incapacity can also leave people vulnerable during their lifetime. Without durable powers of attorney or healthcare directives, no one has clear legal authority to manage finances, pay bills, access accounts, or make medical decisions on your behalf. An individual, perhaps not even a loved one, may be forced to seek court intervention to gain authority—an expensive, public, and time-consuming process that adds stress at a difficult time. This may mean that someone has control over your healthcare and financial decisions whom you would not have chosen had you planned ahead.
For childfree adults, failing to plan often means losing control over key decisions at the very moments when clear direction is most needed.
Financial Planning During Life: A Different Set of Priorities
Estate planning for childfree adults does not begin at death; it begins with thoughtful financial planning during life. Without children to support—or to rely upon later—childfree adults often face a distinct set of planning priorities that emphasize flexibility, independence, and intentional living.
Key lifetime financial planning considerations for childfree adults often include:
- Financial flexibility and independence. With fewer family obligations, childfree adults may have greater capacity to build robust emergency reserves, maximize retirement contributions, and invest intentionally for long-term independence and quality of life.
- Prioritize saving for retirement. Retirement and investment strategies can be tailored to support sustainable spending, longevity, and evolving lifestyle goals—such as travel, education, phased retirement, or a work-optional future—while maintaining sufficient resources for healthcare and long-term care needs.
- Risk management and protection. Thoughtful insurance planning, including disability coverage, appropriate life insurance, and long-term care planning, helps protect assets and preserve independence in the event of illness, incapacity, or unexpected life changes.
- Supporting aging parents and other loved ones. Childfree adults may face unique responsibilities in supporting aging parents or other family members. Planning for potential caregiving costs, exploring professional elder care services, and understanding available care options can help reduce stress and improve long-term decision-making.
- Lifestyle design and work flexibility. Without traditional family timelines, many childfree adults have greater freedom to design a flexible or work-optional lifestyle. Financial planning can focus on allocating resources toward experiences, travel, and personal pursuits, while determining the income needed to sustain those choices over time.
- Planning for decision-making support. Because adult children often serve as informal advocates later in life, childfree adults should plan intentionally for who will manage finances, coordinate care, and support decision-making if physical or cognitive limitations arise, whether through trusted individuals or professional fiduciaries.
Core Estate Planning Documents Still Matter
Even without children, the foundational elements of an estate plan remain critical. Adults should have in place a will, durable power of attorney, healthcare directives, and consider trust planning and beneficiary designations as part of their overall estate planning needs. For childfree adults, these documents often carry greater importance because there is no default decision-maker waiting in the wings. Every role must be named deliberately.
With those documents in place, attention turns to what, specifically, should be addressed within them. Being explicit about property in a will is especially important, as there may be no obvious default beneficiaries. A comprehensive plan should clearly account for both jointly owned and individually held assets, including investment and retirement accounts, bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and valuable personal and household property. Digital assets—such as online accounts, electronic records, and personal photos—should also be addressed, along with clear instructions for pets and their ongoing care. While certain assets, such as retirement accounts and life insurance policies, pass by beneficiary designation rather than through a will, coordinating those designations with the broader estate plan is essential to avoid unintended outcomes.
Choosing Fiduciaries When You Don’t Have Children
Parents often look to adult children to serve as executors, trustees, or agents. Childfree adults must think consciously about who will fill these roles.
Siblings, nieces or nephews, or close friends may be appropriate choices, provided they are willing, capable, and geographically practical. It’s also worth considering professional fiduciaries—such as trust companies or paid advocates—particularly when neutrality, continuity, or expertise is especially valuable. Some elder law firms and care management companies now offer comprehensive services, including serving as agents under a durable power of attorney or healthcare directive, to function as a safety net for solo agers.
Planning for Healthcare and Aging Without Built-In Caregivers
Healthcare and long-term care planning are especially important for childfree adults.
- In addition to advance healthcare directives and medical powers of attorney, individuals should consider vehicles that support future care needs. If available, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) offer triple tax-advantaged savings for qualified healthcare expenses and may serve as a long-term healthcare funding resource.
- Long-term care insurance can cover services not included under Medicare, such as assistance with daily living. Emerging hybrid policies offer added flexibility but require careful evaluation to determine alignment with overall financial goals.
For many, setting aside dedicated savings to self-fund care becomes part of a broader strategy to maintain liquidity and independence without relying on family support.
Defining Legacy on Your Own Terms
Without children, legacy planning becomes a deeply personal exercise. Plans may prioritize extended family, close friends, community engagement, or philanthropic impact.
- Many couples without children want to direct part or all of their wealth to charities, religious organizations, or causes that matter to them. Without an estate plan, those wishes will not be honored. A carefully drafted plan allows you to designate specific gifts, establish a donor-advised fund or private foundation, or even create a charitable trust. There are also benefits to making donations during your lifetime, such as immediate tax advantages and the satisfaction of seeing your generosity at work.
- Bequests to siblings, nieces, nephews, or friends ensure that trusted relationships are recognized.
- Pet trusts and other purpose-specific structures may provide for valued companions and distinctive wishes.
Without traditional heirs, legacy planning can be an intentional expression of values and priorities—balancing lifetime enjoyment with meaningful giving.
Reviewing and Refining Over Time
Estate and financial plans are not static. Changes in assets, relationships, health, residency, or goals should prompt regular review. For childfree adults in particular, ensuring that fiduciaries remain willing and appropriate is essential to keeping a plan current. With plans that revolve around close relationships and personal interests rather than default family designations, it is even more critical that childfree individuals review their plans frequently as circumstances, relationships, and interests evolve.
Final Thoughts
Estate planning for childfree couples is not about filling gaps left by the absence of children. It is about making deliberate, informed decisions that reflect your values, protect your autonomy, and support financial security throughout life.
Failing to create an estate plan can leave your legacy in the hands of state law. The outcome may involve distant relatives inheriting property, court-appointed guardians making decisions, and unnecessary disputes among family members. Worse yet, charitable intentions or gifts to friends could be completely overlooked. By putting a thoughtful plan in place, you gain certainty, reduce stress for loved ones, and ensure that your values are honored.
At Bragg Financial, we are not attorneys and do not practice law. This article is intended solely for general informational purposes. Any questions related to a specific estate plan or legal documents should be addressed with a qualified estate planning attorney. Our role is to help clients think holistically—connecting legal structures, financial resources, and long-term goals into a cohesive strategy that supports both life and legacy.
This information is believed to be accurate at the time of publication but should not be used as specific investment or tax advice as opinions and legislation are subject to change. You should always consult your tax professional or other advisors before acting on the ideas presented here.
Trump Accounts: A New Vehicle for Long-Term Savings
January 29, 2026My husband and I are DINKs. It sounds like a schoolyard insult, but it’s actually shorthand for “Dual Income, No Kids.” It fits us well; it also places us in a subset of households whose financial estate planning needs don’t always follow the standard playbook. A Pew Research study found that about 12% of married couples with at least one spouse in their 30s or 40s have dual incomes and no kids. However, trends suggest a rise in the share of adults remaining childless into later life: around 18% of people in their 50s and 15% of people in their 60s reported having no children. (Note: this would also include SINKs—Single Income No Kids)
The Myth That “No Kids” Means Less Planning
When people think about financial and estate planning, the conversation often centers on children: naming guardians, creating trusts for minors, or preparing the next generation to inherit responsibly. For those who are childfree, it’s easy to assume that estate planning is simpler, or perhaps even unnecessary. In reality, the opposite is often true.
Without children, there are fewer built-in answers. The law may not reflect your wishes, and there may be no obvious person to step in if something unexpected happens. That’s why planning for childfree couples and singles is less about checking boxes and more about making intentional choices—about who’s in charge, how assets are handled, and what matters most.
Done well, estate planning brings clarity and peace of mind throughout life, not just at the end—so decisions are guided by your values, not by default rules.
What Happens If You Don’t Plan
Failing to plan can lead to unintended and burdensome outcomes.
Intestate Succession: Without a will or trust, state intestacy laws determine how assets are distributed and who administers the estate. These laws vary by state and often prioritize biological relatives, not chosen relationships. If both spouses die without a plan, assets may pass to distant relatives with whom there is little connection or, in rare cases, to the state itself.
In North Carolina, if my husband predeceases me and I die without a will, my estate will pass to my mother (if she is still living) and then to my siblings. That may be suitable, but it certainly doesn’t account for my niece, nephews, and favorite charities—all important people and entities in my life.
Incapacity: Failing to plan for incapacity can also leave people vulnerable during their lifetime. Without durable powers of attorney or healthcare directives, no one has clear legal authority to manage finances, pay bills, access accounts, or make medical decisions on your behalf. An individual, perhaps not even a loved one, may be forced to seek court intervention to gain authority—an expensive, public, and time-consuming process that adds stress at a difficult time. This may mean that someone has control over your healthcare and financial decisions whom you would not have chosen had you planned ahead.
For childfree adults, failing to plan often means losing control over key decisions at the very moments when clear direction is most needed.
Financial Planning During Life: A Different Set of Priorities
Estate planning for childfree adults does not begin at death; it begins with thoughtful financial planning during life. Without children to support—or to rely upon later—childfree adults often face a distinct set of planning priorities that emphasize flexibility, independence, and intentional living.
Key lifetime financial planning considerations for childfree adults often include:
Core Estate Planning Documents Still Matter
Even without children, the foundational elements of an estate plan remain critical. Adults should have in place a will, durable power of attorney, healthcare directives, and consider trust planning and beneficiary designations as part of their overall estate planning needs. For childfree adults, these documents often carry greater importance because there is no default decision-maker waiting in the wings. Every role must be named deliberately.
With those documents in place, attention turns to what, specifically, should be addressed within them. Being explicit about property in a will is especially important, as there may be no obvious default beneficiaries. A comprehensive plan should clearly account for both jointly owned and individually held assets, including investment and retirement accounts, bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and valuable personal and household property. Digital assets—such as online accounts, electronic records, and personal photos—should also be addressed, along with clear instructions for pets and their ongoing care. While certain assets, such as retirement accounts and life insurance policies, pass by beneficiary designation rather than through a will, coordinating those designations with the broader estate plan is essential to avoid unintended outcomes.
Choosing Fiduciaries When You Don’t Have Children
Parents often look to adult children to serve as executors, trustees, or agents. Childfree adults must think consciously about who will fill these roles.
Siblings, nieces or nephews, or close friends may be appropriate choices, provided they are willing, capable, and geographically practical. It’s also worth considering professional fiduciaries—such as trust companies or paid advocates—particularly when neutrality, continuity, or expertise is especially valuable. Some elder law firms and care management companies now offer comprehensive services, including serving as agents under a durable power of attorney or healthcare directive, to function as a safety net for solo agers.
Planning for Healthcare and Aging Without Built-In Caregivers
Healthcare and long-term care planning are especially important for childfree adults.
For many, setting aside dedicated savings to self-fund care becomes part of a broader strategy to maintain liquidity and independence without relying on family support.
Defining Legacy on Your Own Terms
Without children, legacy planning becomes a deeply personal exercise. Plans may prioritize extended family, close friends, community engagement, or philanthropic impact.
Without traditional heirs, legacy planning can be an intentional expression of values and priorities—balancing lifetime enjoyment with meaningful giving.
Reviewing and Refining Over Time
Estate and financial plans are not static. Changes in assets, relationships, health, residency, or goals should prompt regular review. For childfree adults in particular, ensuring that fiduciaries remain willing and appropriate is essential to keeping a plan current. With plans that revolve around close relationships and personal interests rather than default family designations, it is even more critical that childfree individuals review their plans frequently as circumstances, relationships, and interests evolve.
Final Thoughts
Estate planning for childfree couples is not about filling gaps left by the absence of children. It is about making deliberate, informed decisions that reflect your values, protect your autonomy, and support financial security throughout life.
Failing to create an estate plan can leave your legacy in the hands of state law. The outcome may involve distant relatives inheriting property, court-appointed guardians making decisions, and unnecessary disputes among family members. Worse yet, charitable intentions or gifts to friends could be completely overlooked. By putting a thoughtful plan in place, you gain certainty, reduce stress for loved ones, and ensure that your values are honored.
At Bragg Financial, we are not attorneys and do not practice law. This article is intended solely for general informational purposes. Any questions related to a specific estate plan or legal documents should be addressed with a qualified estate planning attorney. Our role is to help clients think holistically—connecting legal structures, financial resources, and long-term goals into a cohesive strategy that supports both life and legacy.
This information is believed to be accurate at the time of publication but should not be used as specific investment or tax advice as opinions and legislation are subject to change. You should always consult your tax professional or other advisors before acting on the ideas presented here.
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