October 3, 2025
Legacy films preserve stories, values, and lessons that money alone cannot; capturing voices and memories ensures meaning is passed through generations.
When most people think about leaving a legacy, they picture estate documents, trusts, and financial plans. While those matter, they’re only part of the story. A balance sheet tells your heirs what you left them, but it doesn’t explain how that legacy came to be—or why. Without the stories, values, and lessons behind the wealth, future generations inherit numbers, not meaning.
That’s where legacy films come in.
R360 Productions’ Managing Director Silvia Costa, who oversees the creation of legacy films for R360 members, has sat across from countless families who realize that history is important to preserve. “There’s a generation still with us whose lives were never documented,” she explains. “Our parents didn’t grow up in the Internet era. When they’re gone, so much history goes with them.”
Why Values Matter as Much as Wealth
Every culture has its own version of the saying: “The first generation builds it, the second enjoys it, the third destroys it.” The universality of this saying underscores a truth: without values, wealth rarely lasts.
A legacy film bridges that gap. “It’s not just about what you achieved,” Silvia says. “It’s about what you believe. Your children and grandchildren want to know where the wealth came from, what you stood for, and how those values shaped your choices.”
One R360 family in Colorado, for example, mapped out with their advisors a clear set of values that they share at family meetings. But when Silvia interviewed their adult children, what brought the values alive were the anecdotes: the bedtime lessons, the risks taken, the moments when fear was overcome. These stories make principles tangible. They also make them memorable.
What Happens When Stories Are Lost
When families don’t tell their stories in a tangible way the kids can often feel like they are starting from scratch when it comes to legacy. “They’ll figure things out,” Silvia notes. “But it takes longer if they have to relearn lessons their parents already lived.”
During the filming process members often have revelations. “I didn’t know that,” one family member will say, hearing a parent’s story for the first time. Dinner tables rarely capture the full arc of a life. Filming does.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Many families see the value of creating a legacy film but hesitate to begin. “We’ll get to it later,” is a common reply when legacy films come up. But making this a priority is important. As Silvia says, “Are your parents alive? Then do it now.” Once a generation is gone, so are their untold stories. Imagine what you would give to hear your grandparents describe their childhood, their setbacks, their triumphs—in their own voices.
How to Begin
Some worry that the process of making the film will take too much time or disrupt their lives. In reality, the process is straightforward and designed to fit easily into a family’s routine.
Pre-production: After the planning brief is complete, Silvia schedules short Zoom calls with each interviewee. These conversations shape a script outline for the family to review and approve. Silvia proposes a handful of questions designed to spark reflection without overwhelming. They can include:
Production: Filming typically takes just two to three days, often at the family’s home or vacation house over a weekend. Individual interviews are combined with candid family moments that bring the story to life.
Post-production: From there, the R360 Productions team takes over—editing interviews, weaving in archival photos and videos, and polishing the narrative. Families usually request few, if any, changes.
The result: a beautifully crafted film that preserves a family’s story for generations, created with minimal disruption to daily life. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s sincerity. The more honest families are with themselves, the stronger the film.
The True Meaning of Legacy
Wealth is more than money. It is stories, values, lessons, and love carried across generations. A financial plan preserves assets. A legacy film preserves meaning. Both are essential—but only together can they prepare families for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Most people think if I had a hundred million dollars, I could sort everything out. But those who do have it know—it’s not that simple. Legacy isn’t just leaving money behind; it’s leaving the wisdom to use it well.
Learn more about creating your own R360 Legacy Film here.
Disclosure: R360 is not an investment adviser. Information provided within is for educational purposes only and should not be construed, nor is intended to be, investment advice or a recommendation to invest in any types of securities. R360’s views are subject to change at any point without notice. No investment decision should be made based solely on the content herein and only a financial professional should be engaged for providing investment advice and recommendations. Past performance is not an indication of future returns.
