Articles from Michael Becker
Family Finances — Involve Teens?
Even if major financial decisions impact all family members, do teens and young adultsget a say? The Wall Street Journal reports that financial advisors differ.
Some advisors say yes, because doing so helps young adults to learn how to manage money earlier in life. Letting teens in on such decisions eases them into adulthood by helping them to understand resource limitations and ramification of different choices.
Others advisors disagree. Teens, they say, often inexperienced in making complex and usually difficult choices, can easily become overwhelmed. Also, young adults can’t give truly valuable input without having ‘skin in the game’ — their own money at stake.
The good news is most advisors do agree that early financial education is best for kids. So over time, they’ll become prepared to manage their own finances.