# Investing lessons and inheritance

**How do we teach our child about investing, and what do we plan to leave them?**

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.

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.

- Area: Money, chores and responsibility
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: Teen
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/money-chores-and-responsibility--investing-lessons-and-inheritance

## Investing lessons and inheritance: what are the options?

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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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=money-chores-and-responsibility&topic=money-chores-and-responsibility--investing-lessons-and-inheritance