Things to Teach Your Kids About Investing

Triston Martin Updated on Dec 22, 2023

If your child shows an interest in investing, seize the moment to share what you do and why you invest the way you do, advised Rob Phelan, a high school personal finance teacher and the founder of The Simple Startup. This company assists new business owners in finding their footing. The Simple Startup is dedicated to assisting novice business owners in establishing themselves.

Types of Investment Accounts Available for Children

In most cases, young people under the age of 18 are unable to create their very own brokerage accounts. However, a few other sorts of accounts have been created, especially for younger individuals interested in investing.

Custodial Account

The responsible adult who starts the account is referred to as the custodian and can make deposits and investment decisions for the account. Depending on the state, the kid assumes full responsibility for the account after they reach 18 or 21.

529 Plan

A 529 plan is a kind of tax-advantaged investment account that is meant to assist families in saving money for their children's or grandchildren's education expenses. As long as the money is kept in the account, further taxes won't be taken out of its growth. You won't have to pay taxes on your withdrawals if you use the money to pay for eligible school expenditures such as tuition, fees, and room and board as long as you use the money to pay for these things.

IRA Roth custodial account

A custodial Roth IRA is the last kind of account that you should think about creating for your kid. It is a tax-advantaged account to which contributions may be made using money already taxed.

Tips for Teaching Kids About Investing

When it comes to learning about personal finance and investing, there are now more tools accessible than ever for people of all ages, including children and adults. The alternatives are almost limitless, ranging from traditional education to online communities to eBooks. Even if there is a class on personal finance at your child's school, you can still do many things at home to educate them about this essential issue in addition to what they are learning there.

Set Investing Goals With Them

There are several advantages to reap when beginning with well-defined financial objectives. It teaches your kid to be responsible and thoughtful with their money. And second, it helps you train them to match their investment portfolio to their objectives, which is helpful since various types of goals demand different approaches, such as short-term vs. long-term goals.

Begin With a Diversified Portfolio.

As was noted earlier, diversity is one of the most fundamental aspects of investing. It is a concept that you will want to educate your kid about as soon as possible. Have a conversation with them about the several ways in which they might diversify their holdings.

Review Their Investments Together

Investing is a venture that takes place over time, but you should educate your child that they shouldn't just "set it and forget it." It would help if you made it a point to sit down with them at least once a month or once every three months to discuss their different investments as they age.

Have Them Invest in Their Earnings

When your kid is old enough to get a job and start bringing in money on their own, you may suggest they put part of that money in the bank. They will be able to take an even greater ownership role in their investments and comprehend the significance of coordinating the allocation of funds for investments with the remainder of one's financial plan.

Make It Fun

Children's attention spans are known to be short, and the subject of investing might be difficult to understand. Find methods to make the event more enjoyable and tailor it to each individual to maintain their interest. In addition to compiling a varied portfolio, they should put aside a modest sum of money from their account to invest in businesses that particularly excite them. Thanks to this opportunity, they will have a feeling of ownership and connection to a brand they like and utilize.

Taxes on a Kid's Investment Account

You must have a solid understanding of the tax consequences before opening an investing account for your child. Your account will determine the kind of taxes that apply to your child's financial investments. The 529 plan and the Roth IRA, which we have discussed previously, permit the money to grow tax-free and are available for tax-free withdrawals, provided that the money satisfies certain standards. This is the case for both plans.