Can my IRA be effectively used to create a lasting legacy for my wife, kids and grandkids?

Yes, absolutely. Several years ago the IRS introduced the Multi-Generational Stretch Individual Retirement Account. This type of IRA allows the IRA owner to name children and grandchildren as beneficiaries (or other non-family members).

The beauty of this concept is if each beneficiary only takes the minimum required distribution (RMD), the money can accumulate interest and grow tax deferred over the actuarial lives of each beneficiary. This means that a 2 year old granddaughter might be able to receive IRA distributions over as long as 80 years. The effect of compounding over a long period of time can be quite dramatic.

More.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.