Beyond Generations

Over the next two decades, the United States will experience the largest transfer of wealth in history—an estimated $124 trillion moving from older generations to younger ones. But this historic moment comes with a critical question: will it close the wealth gap, or widen it? 

In this episode, recorded live at the Prosperity Summit in Washington, DC, on Oct. 6, 2025, we bring together four powerful voices from the national, legal and local levels: Amera Bilal, an equity-driven leader with Prince George’s County Government; Tracey Gronniger, Managing Director of Economic Security at Justice in Aging; Maria Jaramillo, Division Director for Financial Empowerment at the National Disability Institute; and Linna Zhu, Senior Research Associate in the Housing and Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute. Together, we’ll unpack how the transfer of wealth will impact economic security, the structural inequities shaping who benefits, and the urgent policies and innovations needed to ensure equity as people age. 

This isn’t just about economics—it’s about dignity, opportunity, and justice across generations. 

This episode explores how something as seemingly simple as having a will can shape the future of wealth equity in America. Jean-Pierre Aubry, Founder and CEO of Aubry Wealth Management, joins us to unpack why wills and estate planning matter so deeply for families of color. Without a clear plan in place, property titles can become tangled, assets can be lost, and opportunities to pass wealth to the next generation often vanish. We will examine the numbers behind estate planning disparities—why Black and Hispanic families are far less likely to have wills compared to white families, and how those disparities widen the racial wealth gap. We’ll also address the challenges faced by unmarried partners, chosen families, and those who feel they “don’t have enough” to justify a will, as well as systemic barriers that make estate planning feel out of reach. With clarity and urgency, Aubry lays out how wills can serve as powerful tools for wealth preservation, inheritance, and justice. Listeners will learn about low-cost resources, promising community strategies, and policy approaches that could help expand access to estate planning and begin to close the wealth gap. 

America is entering the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history—an estimated $124 trillion moving from older to younger generations. At first glance, this moment seems poised to reshape opportunity for millions of families. But beneath the surface lies a sobering question: Unless policy and practice change, will this “great wealth transfer” actually cement America's deep racial wealth divide? In this episode, we sit down with Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, President of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, to explore the intersection of wealth, race and generational change. We’ll discuss the role of the Civil Rights Generation (born 1925–1955)—a cohort that fought for political equality but saw economic equality stall—and how their legacy collides with today’s unprecedented concentration of wealth. From the impact of tax policy to the question of what older Americans can do to pass on not just wealth, but equity, we’ll explore what it will take to turn this moment into an opportunity for justice rather than another barrier erected to keep wealth divided.

Wealth and health are closely linked across our lifespans. In this episode, Dawn Carpenter of the Milken Institute explores how economic status influences health outcomes—and how our health, in turn, can fortify or erode financial stability. From housing to stress, childhood development to systemic racism, Carpenter unpacks the hidden drivers of inequality and their intergenerational consequences. We’ll also discuss promising solutions—like early childhood investments, tax credits,, and integrated programs—that can help break the cycle of disparity and foster financial and physical well-being across generations.

In this episode of Beyond Generations, we sit down with Adrienne Goolsby, Senior Vice President of U.S. Office and Canada, at Habitat for Humanity International, to explore why homeownership is still one of the most powerful tools for building intergenerational wealth in the United States—and why far too many families, especially households of color, have been shut out of this opportunity.

Welcome to a new series from Beyond Generations, Shifting Tides: Addressing Wealth Disparities and Intergenerational Wealth Transfer. In this episode, we talk with AARP’s Vice President for Thought Leadership, Staci Alexander, about the current and historic intergenerational wealth transfer—and why most families of color are locked out. From housing and caregiving to estate planning and policy reform, Alexander lays out what must change if we want to build a future where every family has a chance to leave—and receive—a legacy.

In this new season of Beyond Generations, we will explore trends and possibilities related to intergenerational wealth transfer, addressing historical inequalities and embracing systemic opportunities to enhance wealth accumulation across a lifetime for people as they age. 

This final episode in the Aging with HIV: Navigating the Future podcast series focuses on the distinct challenges faced by Black Americans aging with HIV, and the structural barriers disproportionately impacting their ability to access quality care and treatment. Joining ASA’s Equity Strategy Director Patrice Dickerson to discuss aging at the intersection of Blackness and HIV and how this intersectionality of identities involves navigating a complex landscape of health disparities, social inequities, and unique psychosocial challenges, are Douglas M. Brooks, Raymond A. Jetson and Linda H Scruggs. They also will touch on why their work as advocates is so crucial in bridging existing gaps and how cross-sector collaboration is so critical in advancing health equity for the Black community, especially for Black older adults living with HIV.

This podcast episode focuses on the unique challenges faced by Latino individuals aging with HIV, including barriers to accessing culturally competent care due to language, economic insecurity, stigma and geographic disparities. Luis Nava Molero, Director of the National Programs at Salud es Vida (Health is Life) at the Latino Commission on AIDS, sits downs with Victoria Ruiz, ASA’s Senior On Aging Institute Manager, to discuss how the Latino Commission on AIDS is spearheading health advocacy for Latinos—including those aging with HIV— and building capacity in community organizations.

Este episodio del pódcast se enfoca en los desafíos únicos que enfrentan las personas latinas que envejecen con el VIH, incluyendo las barreras para acceder a una atención culturalmente competente debido al idioma, la inseguridad económica, el estigma y las disparidades geográficas. Luis Nava Molero, Director de Programas Nacionales de Salud es Vida en la Comisión Latina sobre el SIDA, conversa con Victoria Ruiz, Gerente Principal del On Aging Institute de ASA, para hablar sobre cómo la Comisión Latina sobre el SIDA está liderando la defensa de la salud para los latinos—incluidos aquellos que envejecen con el VIH—y fortaleciendo la capacidad de las organizaciones comunitarias. 

This podcast episode focuses on the mission of HealthHIV and insights from the organization’s Fourth Annual State of Aging with HIV National Survey. For the first time, this survey has two population focuses—one that reached those aging with HIV and one that reached the workforce providing health and human services to this population. Scott Bertani and Sarah Brodt from Health HIV join ASA’s Equity Strategy Director Patrice Dickerson to discuss survey findings and implications for care, policy and advocacy for people aging with HIV across the country.