The cost-of-living crisis is likely to increase the number of clients seeking to give lump sum cash gifts to adult children, financial advisers say.

That could lead to some difficult conversations, warned retirement specialist Just Group.

Research among more than 200 adviser firms for Just Group’s 2022 Care Report found that almost half - 42% - thought the price-squeeze would increase the number of clients looking to give a living inheritance in the short term.

By contrast less than a quarter - only 24% - thought the cost-of-living-crisis would decrease the number of their clients looking to give a living inheritance.

Two-thirds of advisers who reckoned clients would wish to hand cash to their grown-up kids said they would need to challenge their clients’ plans.

The main reason for challenging clients was because the gift could leave them short of income in later life, with two-thirds of advisers citing that.

Just over half mentioned that clients would not have enough money to give some to children.

Meanwhile just over a third said they would challenge clients because clients had not considered care costs in later life.

The Care Report is the 10th edition of Just Group’s research series which dates back to 2012.

Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said: “Understandably, people want to help their children financially, but advisers have an important role managing their clients’ decisions to hand over cash if it could leave them short in the future.”

He said advisers could be facing some difficult conversations with their clients because future care costs are what could be called a ‘known unknown’ that looms large but is currently impossible to quantify.