Wills, Wealth and Justice: How Estate Planning Can Narrow the Racial Wealth Gap

This episode explores how something as seemingly simple as having a will can shape the future of wealth equity in America. Jean-Pierre Aubry, Founder and CEO of Aubry Wealth Management, joins us to unpack why wills and estate planning matter so deeply for families of color. Without a clear plan in place, property titles can become tangled, assets can be lost, and opportunities to pass wealth to the next generation often vanish. We will examine the numbers behind estate planning disparities—why Black and Hispanic families are far less likely to have wills compared to white families, and how those disparities widen the racial wealth gap. We’ll also address the challenges faced by unmarried partners, chosen families, and those who feel they “don’t have enough” to justify a will, as well as systemic barriers that make estate planning feel out of reach. With clarity and urgency, Aubry lays out how wills can serve as powerful tools for wealth preservation, inheritance, and justice. Listeners will learn about low-cost resources, promising community strategies, and policy approaches that could help expand access to estate planning and begin to close the wealth gap.