Should I count a likely future inheritance when deciding how much to save for retirement?

A future inheritance is usually better treated as a possible upside than as money required for the retirement plan to succeed. Even when parents have significant assets, the amount and timing can change because of market performance, health and long term care costs, taxes, charitable gifts, family decisions, remarriage, or changes to trusts and beneficiaries. Once an inheritance is actually received, the plan can be updated and may allow more spending, earlier retirement, or additional gifts.