April 2, 2026 / Press
Robert Strauss Featured in CNBC on “Givers’ Regret”: Wealthy Parents Seeking to Reclaim Assets Given to Children
Robert Strauss was recently featured in a CNBC “Inside Wealth” article entitled, “Givers’ Regret: What Happens When Wealthy Parents Try to Claw Back Fortunes from Their Kids.” The piece examines a growing trend affecting high-net-worth families. Parents who accelerated large gifts to their children ahead of the estate tax exemption sunset are now finding themselves second-guessing those transfers after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the higher exemption permanent.
Rob explains that there are a few options available to parents who find themselves financially overextended after transferring or gifting significant assets to their children. One of his estate approaches in this situation involves dividing the existing trust and structuring a loan from one of its offshoots back to the parents, though he notes the risks that come with that route. “You can’t get around the fact that they need the money, and so you’re looking to break the fewest number of eggs,” Rob explains.
He adds that the IRS could deem parents the true beneficiaries of the trust if they lack the assets to repay the loan, potentially pulling those assets back into their taxable estate. His general advice to clients is to plan conservatively from the start.
“I’m always advising parents not to overcommit because you don’t want to ever have to be beholden to your kids,” Rob expresses.