“Legacy is not what’s left tomorrow when you’re gone. It’s what you give, create, impact, and contribute today while you’re here that then happens to live on.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru

Legacy is often associated with what we leave behind. But what if we thought about it differently? What if legacy was less about leaving something and more about living it—right now? If you’ve spent years building wealth, knowledge, and values, you don’t have to wait until the end of life to make an impact. Designing a living legacy means using your resources—time, money, influence—to support what matters most while you’re still here to witness the results.

A recentU.S. Trust study found that 77% of high-net-worth individuals believe it’s important to give back during their lifetime—but only a fraction have structured a plan to do so. By reimagining your wealth as a tool for impact now, you not only enrich the lives of others—you experience greater purpose, fulfillment, and connection in your own.

Step 1: Clarify the Impact You Want to Make

Legacy begins with clarity. Ask yourself: What causes or communities matter most to me? What problems do I want to help solve? What kind of future do I want to help build?

Use a tool likeNotion orEvernote to journal your vision. Or explore your values withIkigai—a framework that helps align your passions, talents, and mission.

Reflection prompts:

• What issue keeps me up at night?
• What opportunity do I wish more people had access to?
• What knowledge, skill, or resource do I have that could benefit others?

Step 2: Activate Giving Through Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

Donor-advised funds are an increasingly popular way to simplify giving while maximizing tax benefits. You make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants from the fund over time. This allows you to plan your giving strategically and watch your impact unfold.

Organizations likeFidelity Charitable,Vanguard Charitable, andSchwab Charitable offer accessible DAFs for individuals and families. These platforms also provide tools to help you evaluate nonprofits and align your giving with your values.

Step 3: Explore Values-Based Investing

Your portfolio can reflect your principles. Values-based investing (also called ESG or impact investing) focuses on putting your money into companies and funds that prioritize environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical governance.

Explore platforms likeEthic,OpenInvest, orEllevest to create investment strategies that make money and make a difference.

According to aMorgan Stanley report, 85% of investors are interested in sustainable investing—and this number is growing across all generations.

Step 4: Update Your Estate Plan With Purpose

Even as you design your living legacy, it’s important to ensure your long-term estate plan aligns with your values. Consider incorporating charitable trusts, gifting strategies, and planned giving into your will. This ensures that your values live on through strategic, meaningful giving.

Apps likeTrust & Will orFreeWill make it easy to create or update estate plans that reflect your priorities and legacy goals.

You can also pass down more than money. Write a legacy letter or record a video to share your stories, lessons, and hopes with loved ones. This emotional inheritance can be as valuable as any financial gift.

Step 5: Share the Experience With Others

One of the greatest gifts you can give is modeling purposeful living. Invite family, friends, or mentees to join you in your giving journey. Host a family philanthropy day. Match donations to causes your grandchildren care about. Talk openly about the “why” behind your choices.

Legacy isn’t just what you give—it’s what you teach, inspire, and ignite in others.

Your Living Legacy Starts Today

You don’t have to wait for someday. You can make a difference now—with your money, your time, your voice, and your values. A living legacy is a daily opportunity to reflect who you are and what you stand for.

And in doing so, you don’t just leave a mark—you expand your life with meaning, connection, and joy.

So ask yourself:

What’s one step I can take this month to live my legacy—rather than leave it?

Join the conversation and share how you’re designing your living legacy in theforum.