Survey on the State of End-of-Life Planning (PR media Inc.)

When you hear the word "end-of-life planning" (shukatsu), many people might first think of a will. However, the children's generation actually feels that what they truly want their parents to do is a more fundamental "preparation."

To shed light on the attitudes of the children's generation regarding their parents' end-of-life planning, PR media Inc. ( https://prmedia.co.jp/ ), which operates an information media focused on inheritance, conducted a survey targeting 300 men and women nationwide aged 30 to 69. The survey asked about the end-of-life preparations children want their parents to undertake, whether parents are positive about end-of-life planning, reasons for lack of progress, and whether discussions have occurred within the family.

The results of this survey revealed that the top end-of-life preparation parents want their children to do is "organizing savings and accounts (passbooks)" at 56.7%. This was more than three times the rate for "creating a will" (18.0%). On the other hand, while about 80% (79.0%) of children want their parents to engage in end-of-life planning, only 20.7% (1 in 5) feel their parents are positive about it. Furthermore, only 10.3% of households have had concrete discussions about end-of-life planning. A significant gap has emerged between the children's desire for "visualization of assets" and the differing attitudes and lack of communication between parents and children.

[Main Results of This Survey]

- The top end-of-life preparation parents want is "organizing passbooks and accounts" at 56.7%

- Approximately 60% want "visualization of assets"

- Only 1 in 5 (20.7%) feel parents are positive about end-of-life planning

- The top reason for lack of progress is "Parents are still healthy, making it difficult to bring up" (21.3%)

- Only 10.3% (1 in 10) are having concrete discussions about end-of-life planning

*For details on the survey methodology and respondents, please refer to the "Survey Implementation Overview" section below.

▼ The original article regarding this survey is published on our media.

https://prmedia.co.jp/media/inheritance-endlife-priority/

Main Survey Results

1. Top End-of-Life Preparation Parents Want is "Organizing Passbooks and Accounts" (56.7%) -- More Than 3 Times That of "Wills"

First, what kind of end-of-life preparations do children want their parents to undertake? They were asked to choose up to three end-of-life preparations they want their parents to have done.

Top end-of-life preparation parents want is "organizing passbooks and accounts" (56.7%), more than 3 times that of wills (18.0%) (n=300 / multiple responses)

The most frequent response was "organizing and listing savings, accounts (passbooks)" at 56.7%. This was followed by "organizing and reviewing insurance" (25.0%), "future plans for real estate (e.g., family home)" (23.0%), and "organizing household goods and belongings" (22.7%). "Creating a will" was only 18.0%.

What is noteworthy is that organizing savings accounts was chosen more than three times as often as creating a will. Approximately 60% of respondents wanted either their passbooks or insurance to be organized. This suggests that before deciding how to divide assets, children are seeking "visualization of assets" – understanding "what exists, where it is, and how much there is."

2. While 79% of Children Desire It, Only 20.7% of Parents Are Positive -- A Gap of About 4 Times

So, are the parents themselves positive about this? We looked at children who want their parents to engage in end-of-life planning (79.0% of the total) and asked if they felt their parents were positive.

Even among children who desire end-of-life planning, only 20.7% (1 in 5) feel their parents are positive (n=237 / those who desire end-of-life planning)

Only 20.7% of children felt their parents were positive -- just 1 in 5. In fact, 24.9% felt their parents were "negative," exceeding the positive responses, with "neither" being the most common response.

Children want action, but parents are hesitant. The gap between the approximately 80% of children who desire end-of-life planning and the 1 in 5 parents who seem positive is emerging as a major factor hindering progress.

3. Top Reason for Lack of Progress is "Parents are Still Healthy, Making it Difficult to Bring Up" (21.3%) -- The Paradox of "While They Are Still Healthy"

Why is end-of-life planning not progressing? We asked for the reasons why it is difficult to ask parents to engage in end-of-life planning, even if children wish for it.

The top reason for lack of progress in end-of-life planning is "Parents are still healthy, making it difficult to bring up" (21.3%) (n=300)

The most common reason was "Parents are still healthy, making it difficult to bring up" at 21.3%. This was followed by "difficult to discuss money matters with children" (19.3%), "don't know where to start asking" (18.0%), and "it's inauspicious/feel reluctant" (16.3%).

Free-response comments included statements like "parents are lazy" and "the person themselves has no intention of cooperating," as well as more urgent responses such as "cannot proceed due to dementia." Ideally, end-of-life planning can be calmly undertaken while parents are still healthy and have decision-making capacity.

However, if it is postponed with the idea that "it's too early" or "it's inauspicious," and then dementia or other conditions make decision-making difficult, asset organization and countermeasures may become impossible. The paradox that action should be taken "while they are still healthy" is evident here.

4. Only 1 in 10 (10.3%) Are Having Concrete Discussions About End-of-Life Planning -- A Triple Disconnect of Desires, Attitudes, and Communication

Even if there are desires, are parents and children actually talking about it? We asked about the experience of discussing end-of-life planning with family members.

Only 10.3% (1 in 10) are having concrete discussions about end-of-life planning with family (n=300)

Only 10.3% reported having "had concrete discussions." When combined with "it was only vaguely brought up" (39.3%) and "have never discussed it" (50.3%), it means that 89.7% are not effectively discussing it.

Children desire end-of-life planning (79.0%), but parents do not seem positive (20.7%), and discussions are not concrete (10.3%). The combination of these three disconnects – desires, attitudes, and communication – makes it difficult for end-of-life planning to move forward.

5. Interests Lie in "Visualization, Tax Savings, and Simple Diagnosis" -- End-of-Life Planning Starts with "Asset Inventory"

So, what are children interested in regarding end-of-life planning and inheritance? We asked what they would be interested in if they could consult or gather information.

Interests are top-ranked by "simple diagnosis of inheritance tax" (36.7%), "tax savings (real estate, life insurance)" (27.0%), and "visualization of assets" (24.7%) (n=300 / multiple responses)

The top responses were "simple diagnosis of whether inheritance tax will be incurred" (36.7%), "methods for tax savings and pre-mortem measures (including utilization of real estate and life insurance)" (27.0%), "methods for visualizing and listing assets" (24.7%), and "where to consult specialists" (20.3%).

The top desire of children, "organizing passbooks and accounts," is precisely an asset inventory. Listing savings, real estate, and life insurance, and reviewing them as necessary, is the practical first step in end-of-life planning. In situations requiring professional judgment, consulting specialists allows for concrete progress.

Conclusion: End-of-Life Planning Starts with "Visualization," Not "Wills" -- While Healthy, With Family

This survey clearly shows that the top end-of-life preparation children want from their parents is not a "will" but "organizing passbooks and accounts (visualization)." Before discussing how assets will be divided, children's true desire is to have "what exists and where it is" organized.

However, among children who desire end-of-life planning, only 1 in 5 (20.7%) feel their parents are positive. Furthermore, only 10.3% of households have concrete discussions. The reality is that end-of-life planning is difficult to initiate due to the combined disconnects in desires, attitudes, and communication.

End-of-life planning can only be advanced while parents are healthy and have decision-making capacity. If it is postponed until dementia or other conditions make decision-making difficult, asset organization and countermeasures may become impossible.

The first step is to "visualize" the parents' assets and discuss them with the family. It begins with listing savings, real estate, and life insurance, and reviewing them if necessary. When unsure where to start, consulting specialists knowledgeable in inheritance and assets can reveal a path forward tailored to the family's situation.

Survey Implementation Overview

Survey Organization: In-house survey Survey Method: Internet survey (Freeasy by IBRIDGE Inc.) Target Area: Nationwide Respondents: Men and women nationwide aged 30-69 (those with at least one living parent or stepparent) Survey Period: June 16, 2026 Valid Responses: 300

* "End-of-life preparations parents want" (Section 1) was a multiple-choice question. * Percentages in the survey results and graphs in this release may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

About PR media Inc.

PR media Inc. is a company engaged in businesses such as call center operations, media operations, advertising agency services, marketing, and insurance agency services.

Within these operations, they manage information media that conveys themes related to "life and money," such as inheritance and asset formation, in a professional and easy-to-understand manner. Their aim is to provide reliable information and opportunities for consultation with experts so that each reader can face important milestones in life with peace of mind.

End-of-life planning and inheritance can be difficult to start. When in doubt, consulting with specialists can reveal concrete steps forward.

◆ PR media Inc. Company Profile

Established: August 22, 2018 Head Office Location: Ebisu SS Building 9F, 4-3-14 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Representative Director: Fujimori Nanai URL: https://prmedia.co.jp/ Business Activities: Call Center Business / Media Business / Advertising Agency Business / Marketing Business / Insurance Agency Business

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Survey結果