Legacy Starts with the Client: Why Level One Matters Most
At Total Family, we’ve worked with firms across the country, and what we’ve seen is simple: the best legacy work starts with the client. That’s why at Total Family, we use a simple 3-Level Legacy Framework designed to meet families where they are.
Level one is client-led. It doesn’t require a six-day retreat or a 40-page family constitution. It starts with one small, personal step that builds momentum and meaning over time.
We’ve seen clients read something that resonates and begin writing down their own family purpose. We’ve seen them define their values or gather their families for a conversation on their own terms.
Because level one doesn’t require firm involvement, it often gets overlooked. But that’s also what makes it so valuable.
Why Level One Legacy Work Matters
Advisors often put more work into a client’s legacy than the client does. That can’t be the case. You can’t care more than they do.
But if we give families something small and personal they can do today, and they’re more likely to take the next step tomorrow.
Just like going for a walk can lead to a healthier lifestyle, a short legacy activity can grow into deeper conversations, stronger clarity, and more connection across generations.
A level one win might be:
• A client writing down one milestone from their family’s history
• One spouse defining their personal values
• Writing a letter to a child on their birthday
Legacy work is never done. That’s why it’s so important to start.
The letter your client writes to their child at age five will be different from the one they’ll write when that child turns twenty-one.
This work doesn’t require an advisor or a consultant. In fact, that’s the point.
What Level One Signals to Advisors
When families show a willingness to engage at level one, they’re sending a strong signal that they’re ready for more.
It also gives advisors something to build on in the relationship.
As the saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher appears.
Level one is the foundation.
