Investing lessons and inheritance
When you teach your child about investing and how you plan to leave money: nothing until adulthood, concepts only, a small real account, helping during life, or a limited inheritance.
How do we teach our child about investing, and what do we plan to leave them?
In short: Parents choose between 6 main approaches: Not until adulthood; Concepts only; A small real account in the teens; leave as much as possible; Help during life; Limited inheritance; Give most away. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: teen.
Investing lessons and inheritance: what are the options?
Parents usually land on one of these 6 approaches.
1. Not until adulthood
You leave investing until the child is grown.
2. Concepts only
You explain ideas such as compound interest without real money.
3. A small real account in the teens; leave as much as possible
The teen manages a small account with real money, and you plan to leave them as much as you can.
4. Help during life
You give money while you are alive, such as toward a first home.
5. Limited inheritance
You plan to leave a modest amount.
6. Give most away
You plan to give most of your money to causes.
Investing lessons and inheritance: what does the evidence say?
Your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.
No outcome research gathered on this yet — treat it as a preference.
What else is worth knowing?
This covers two linked questions: how you teach a child about investing, and what you intend to leave them. Some parents give help during their lifetime; others plan to give most away. A will is needed whatever you decide.
Questions to ask each other
- What do we want our child to know about investing?
- How do we feel about leaving money to them?
- What would we say about it while we are alive?
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First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.