When we think about investing, our goals are often short to medium term—saving for a home, preparing for retirement, or building financial independence. But for many, there’s a deeper motivation: creating something lasting for the next generation. Whether it’s your children, grandchildren, or even future generations you’ll never meet, building a portfolio that endures beyond your lifetime is one of the most meaningful financial legacies you can leave.
But creating a truly generational portfolio requires a different mindset. It’s not just about growth or beating the market over the next 12 months. It’s about resilience, sustainability, and long-term value. In today’s uncertain economic landscape, shaped by inflation, shifting demographics, and rapid technological change, laying a financial foundation for your children has never been more important—or more complex.
Investing with a 20–30 Year Horizon
When you’re investing for your child’s future, you have time on your side. This allows you to take advantage of long-term growth assets, like equities, without being overly concerned about short-term market swings. Historically, global stock markets have returned around 7–9% annually over multi-decade periods, even accounting for crises and downturns.
To put this into perspective: if you invest € 5,000 at birth for a child and add just € 100 monthly into a diversified equity ETF, assuming a 7% annual return, that fund could grow to more than € 90,000 by the time the child turns 20. And that’s without any complex investment strategy or risky bets—just time and consistency doing their work.
Costruzione del portafoglio: Cosa entra e cosa resta fuori
Un portafoglio generazionale deve essere costruito con l'idea di resistere a più cicli economici, cambiamenti politici e sconvolgimenti del mercato. Ciò significa dare priorità alla qualità, alla diversificazione e all'equilibrio.
Equities should form the core, particularly those with global exposure and strong fundamentals—think companies with durable business models, recurring revenue, and leadership in their sectors. Passive vehicles like MSCI World or S&P 500 ETFs are excellent foundational choices.
Ma la diversificazione è importante. Potete anche prendere in considerazione l'aggiunta di asset reali come l'oro (come copertura contro il deprezzamento della valuta), i titoli di Stato per la stabilità, o anche i fondi allineati con i principi ESG, che potrebbero ottenere risultati migliori in un mondo sempre più attento alla sostenibilità.
It’s less about chasing returns and more about building something that can endure. Avoid speculative trends or highly concentrated positions. The goal isn’t outperformance—it’s preservation and predictable compounding.
Il ruolo dell'efficienza fiscale e della custodia
When investing for children, especially in Europe and countries like Italy, consider the most tax-efficient structures available. Instruments like a “Junior Investment Plan” or family trust accounts can help avoid unnecessary taxation and simplify the transfer of assets later on.
In Italia, i genitori possono aprire conti finanziari a nome dei minori o gestire conti di deposito che trasferiscono automaticamente la proprietà quando il figlio raggiunge la maggiore età. Queste opzioni garantiscono trasparenza, protezione legale e continuità.
Inoltre, è bene prestare attenzione alle leggi sulle imposte di successione. Attualmente l'Italia ha regole di successione relativamente favorevoli rispetto a molti Paesi dell'UE, ma la situazione potrebbe cambiare. Una pianificazione tempestiva con un consulente finanziario può aiutarvi a minimizzare gli oneri fiscali successivi.
Insegnare attraverso l'azione
Perhaps the most powerful part of building a generational portfolio is the opportunity to teach financial literacy. Investing for your children isn’t just about handing over money one day—it’s about preparing them to manage it wisely.
Coinvolgeteli nelle conversazioni durante la crescita. Mostrate loro come funziona l'interesse composto. Fate vedere loro come si ragiona a lungo termine. Le ricerche dimostrano che i bambini che ricevono un'educazione finanziaria di base dai genitori hanno maggiori probabilità di investire prima, di risparmiare con costanza e di evitare le trappole del debito al consumo da adulti.
In this way, the portfolio becomes more than numbers on a spreadsheet. It becomes a tool for teaching values—discipline, patience, responsibility—that extend well beyond finance.
Planting a Tree You’ll Never Sit Under
Creating a generational portfolio is an act of vision. You’re not just managing money—you’re planting seeds that may take decades to grow, for people whose lives are just beginning or haven’t even started yet. That’s a powerful concept in a world that increasingly rewards immediacy.
It requires you to zoom out, think in decades rather than quarters, and focus less on market noise and more on long-term impact. And it doesn’t require millions. It requires intention, consistency, and care.
Because when you invest for your children, you’re investing in more than their future balance sheet. You’re giving them a head start, a sense of security, and, hopefully, the wisdom to one day do the same for the generation after them. And that, truly, is what building wealth is all about.
