Ancient Wisdom: What Can the Stoics Teach Us About Family Legacy Planning?

The Stoic philosophers wrestled with issues of uncertainty, time and responsibility, and their thinking remains as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago. The Stoics saw wealth as a tool that, if used wisely, could support a good life, and not as a resource to be accumulated and guarded. When we view family legacy through the lens of Marcus Aurelius or Seneca, it becomes an exercise in intention: we should use our wealth to live the lifestyle we want now, prepare calmly for the things we cannot control, and ensure that whatever is left passes on thoughtfully and efficiently.

“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.” - Marcus Aurelius

We cannot control how long we live, the way markets move, or what Rachel Reeves reads out each November. What we can control are the decisions we make each day. With family legacy planning, this matters. Putting a plan in place, drawing down strategically, and making deliberate choices about our level of spending and the gifts we’d like to make all fall within our influence. Kicking the can down the road and ignoring these decisions does not preserve control; it hands it over to chance. Marcus Aurelius teaches us that peace of mind doesn’t come from trying to predict the future, but from acting sensibly and decisively within the limits of our control.

“Receive without pride, let go without attachment.” - Marcus Aurelius

We accumulate wealth as a means to an end, but this can shift into a habit of preserving wealth for its own sake. Many people, sometimes without realising, continue to accumulate long after their financial security and lifestyle needs have been met, not out of greed, but out of caution. When money isn’t serving a purpose and is treated purely as a resource to be guarded, it can begin to shape our decisions and restrict our enjoyment. Used well, it becomes a tool to enable freedom, choice, and to support the things that matter to us.

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it.” - Seneca

The Stoics spent a lot of time, ironically, thinking about their finite lives, and that delaying life in the hope of future security can come at a cost. Nothing is guaranteed, and if we continually defer our wealth for later, we risk never getting to use it for the very purpose we accumulated it. Thoughtful legacy planning recognises this balance: using money intentionally to support the life and lifestyle we want today, while still preparing sensibly for the future, rather than allowing caution to quietly crowd out living.

If anything in this article has resonated with you, and you would like to discuss further, please get in touch with us on 0131 220 0000 or enquiries@carbonfinancial.co.uk.

Important Note: This article is provided for information purposes only and should not be regarded as financial advice. Decisions should not be made based on this material without first consulting a qualified financial planner who understands your personal circumstances. Information is based on sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This content is directed primarily at UK residents.