These persons are generally in the last 10-15 years of their working lives, having made genuine attempts at wealth creation during their younger years.
It is important that these parties work together with their solicitor, licensed financial adviser, and taxation adviser to ensure that their legal affairs and retirement plan (savings and investment) have sound structures about them and are capable of providing adequately for their expenses in retirement.
It might also be that they decide to engage in some “during life” distribution of a portion of their assets to their children (either as a loan or a gift,) to assist their children in advancing their lives, whether by reducing debt; educating their children; or investing in a business. This is usually the time of the pre-retiree’s life that real focus is brought to bear on their will and trust documents.
The prevalence of ‘blended’ families raises unique considerations for each of the parties as to how both, as spouses and parents, on their death, will fairly distribute their assets amongst the children of the blended families. Regular reviews of their wills every few years are recommended.
And don’t forget the need that pre-retirees have for enduring powers of attorney and appointment of enduring guardians while they are alive.