<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Millions of Australians are relying on an inheritance to achieve major financial goals such as purchasing a home or retiring, but experts are warning the expectation of a windfall is creating a "false sense of security".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A survey by comparison website </span><a href="https://www.finder.com.au/" rel="" target="" title="Finder"><span>Finder</span></a><span> found 8.8 million Australians were expecting family money over the coming years, with 43 per cent of men in line for an inheritance compared to 41 per cent of women.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The research comes as many Australians find themselves in the middle of a perfect storm, with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-house-prices-rise-for-fifth-month-in-a-row/7e9837e6-6fac-4a08-8d34-2efb76953765" rel="" target="" title="property prices climbing for a fifth consecutive month"><span>property prices climbing for a fifth consecutive month</span></a><span> and new research revealing </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/potential-superannuation-crisis-looming-sole-traders-entrepreneurs/f9b13126-16b9-47cc-a151-d43fa23b1844" rel="" target="_blank" title="a lack of superannuation among the country's smallest business owners"><span>a lack of superannuation among the country's smallest business owners</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/potential-superannuation-crisis-looming-sole-traders-entrepreneurs/f9b13126-16b9-47cc-a151-d43fa23b1844" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Retirement crisis coming for millions of Aussies</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With the current cost of living, one in 10 respondents to the Finder survey said they were dependent on an inheritance to achieve their financial goals.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Almost one in five Australians said an inheritance would significantly improve their finances but they were not dependent on the money.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The survey also found that while 12 per cent of respondents expect to receive an inheritance, the financial boost would not have a major impact on their financial plans.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/money-news-new-finder-survey-reveals-millions-of-australians-relying-on-inheritance-due-to-cost-of-living-crisis-for-major-financial-milestones-such-as-purchasing-a-home-and-retirement/6d3e4036-21fa-4061-a0ff-739766cb14f8" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/food-delivery-restaurant-boom/132c90db-52c0-4ca5-aefd-5377dbaf5da1"><strong><span>Restaurants reaping the benefits of food delivery surge</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/02/27/09/34/jobs-with-biggest-salary-growth-in-past-year"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/M88rzuPmmUhWopDx61GXJeSeL3I=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F8acd4c2d-04f7-443d-94c5-989cde915289" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/M88rzuPmmUhWopDx61GXJeSeL3I=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F8acd4c2d-04f7-443d-94c5-989cde915289 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/2Mt2fgxIy_hOdY6hSCc3AhRcP1w=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F8acd4c2d-04f7-443d-94c5-989cde915289 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">The top 10 jobs actually making money in cost-of-living crisis</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/02/27/09/34/jobs-with-biggest-salary-growth-in-past-year">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Almost one in 10 respondents did not expect to get an inheritance due to family circumstances such as a lack of family or strained relationships.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, half of Australians said their family was not in a position to leave an inheritance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Finder personal finance expert Sarah Megginson said the family money was increasingly viewed as a lifeline for many Australians navigating rising costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/millions-of-aussies-are-about-to-get-a-boost-to-their-super-but-most-are-unaware/791b646f-f3ef-4b80-bc9f-71d5c26f6518"><strong><span>Millions of Aussies unaware of big boost to their financial future</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With the cost of living sky-high, it's not surprising that some Aussies are hinging their future financial security on an inheritance, but it's a risky strategy," Megginson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Relying on money that hasn't hit your bank account yet can delay important financial decisions and create a false sense of security.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Not everyone can count on a family payout, nearly half of Aussies say their family won't be in a position to leave anything behind."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Megginson urged Australians who expect to receive an inheritance to use this time to educate themselves on topics such as investing, tax implications and budgeting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A sudden windfall can disappear fast without a solid financial plan in place," Megginson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.</span></em></div></div>