Family legacy is never something that can be solved by simply buying a product.

I've seen many families whose first reaction to the idea of passing down their heritage is: buy something.

Buy an insurance policy, a trust, obtain residency, set up a fund. It seems that as long as you have all the products, the inheritance process is automatically completed.

But once you actually start doing it, you'll find that even after you buy the product, the problems persist. Sometimes, the more products you have, the more complex the problems become.

Because family legacy is never something that can be solved by simply buying a product.

Products address the issue of "money," while inheritance addresses the issue of "family."

Insurance can pay out money, trusts can hold assets, immigration can change your status, and funds can manage investments.

These are all important. They are tools, components, and indispensable parts of the inheritance structure.

Tools solve the problem of "money." But inheritance solves the problem of "family."

What are the problems with family?

• Who keeps their word? Who makes the decisions?

• Can the child handle it? Are they willing to take it?

• Will siblings fall out over money?

• How to protect assets when a marriage changes?

• If something happens tomorrow, who will know where the things are? Who will take care of the children? Who will manage the company?

• What exactly are you trying to convey? Money, values, or family culture?

No product can answer these questions.

Insurance won't tell you how to raise your children. Trusts won't tell you how to manage your family. Immigration won't tell you how your family should make decisions together.

Products are tools. Tools are important, but they are not the answer. The answer lies in top-level design.

Why is it easy to go astray when thinking about "buying products"?

Because people who sell products will naturally start with the product itself.

Insurance sellers will tell you what insurance can solve. Trust sellers will tell you what trusts can solve. Immigration sellers will tell you what residency status can solve.

They're not bad people. They're just looking at things from their own product's perspective.

But your family doesn't start with a single product. Your family starts as a whole.

What you need is someone to take a holistic view and help you see things clearly:

• What do you have now, and what do you lack?

• Where do your risks lie, and what are your priorities?

• What is the result you truly want?

• Then, we decide what tools to use, in what order, and who will do it.

Without this step, you might buy a lot of products, but you might only buy a lot of parts and still not be able to assemble a car that can be driven on the road.

Top-level design is the starting point for inheritance.

What is the top-level design for family succession?

First, figure out your "home" before putting your "money" in.

It includes at least these things:

1. Who speaks in family governance, how are decisions made, and what are the rules? Family charter, family meetings, and decision-making mechanisms.

2. Asset structure: how is money placed, where is it placed, and how is it transferred? Trusts, holding companies, insurance, investment structures.

3. Identity planning and how individuals and assets move globally. Tax status, residency status, and compliant reporting.

4. How to educate and guide the next generation in children's education. This includes education funds, succession planning, and the transmission of values.

5. What exactly is the family culture you want to pass on? Family stories, family precepts, charity, and the inheritance of its spirit.

These things cannot be accomplished by a single lawyer, accountant, or insurance broker. It requires someone with a holistic perspective to help you design, coordinate, and implement them.

This person is the top-level designer of the family's succession.

Why I did this

I've seen too many families whose wealth doesn't last beyond three generations. It's not that they don't have enough money, it's that their homes lack order. Without order, the more money you have, the easier it is for it to fall apart.

I've also seen families that aren't the wealthiest, but have good family relationships, responsible next generation, and a stable and thriving family business. This is because they thought things through beforehand about what constitutes a "family."

I grew up in a turbulent environment. I know all too well that a family without order, boundaries, and traditions is not only exhausting, but over time, it will fall apart.

So I chose this path. What I'm doing is helping the family establish order. I really love this path, and I'm very good at it.

I love seeing families prosper and live in harmony, and I love seeing wealth and relationships passed down together. I created a family office so that families who truly want to pass on their wealth have someone to rely on.

If you are also thinking about passing on this tradition...

Don't rush to look at the products. First, think clearly about what you want to pass on to this family, to whom, and how.

These are questions that cannot be answered by buying a product. It requires someone to take a holistic view and help you think clearly about your family, assets, identity, relationships, and the next generation, all within a single framework.

If you'd like someone to do this for you, we can talk about it.

My job is to help you think through the overall picture of your family's succession, and then work with lawyers, accountants, and trust advisors to implement it.

Family legacy is never something that can be solved by simply buying a product.

It is a top-level design about "home" that needs to be taken seriously.

If you are also thinking about passing on this tradition, feel free to leave a message in the background of our official WeChat account, or add me on WeChat and indicate "inheritance".

My job is to help you think through the overall picture of your family's succession, and then work with lawyers, accountants, and trust advisors to implement it.

Family legacy is never something that can be solved by buying a product. It is a top-level design of the "family" that needs to be taken seriously.

Didi Zhang

Family Legacy Architect | Didi's Family Office

A brand of Didi Magic Place Inc.

Disclaimer: This article represents personal opinions only and does not constitute legal, tax, investment, insurance, or immigration advice. Please consult a licensed professional for specific advice.