Teenagers & Financial Responsibility | Dechtman Wealth Management

Financial responsibility may not top the list of unmentionables for conversations with your teenagers, but it certainly may be one of the most important.

Today’s marketplace provides a wealth of alluring financial “opportunities,” many of which may lead the adolescent mind down unsavory paths with catastrophic consequences. Easy credit. The latest (and most expensive) in fashion. The finest and swiftest in high-tech gadgetry. And, of course, the inevitable lure of the automobile.

Good advice, taken to heart, may help steer your teenagers away from the youthful transgressions that have plagued countless generations past.

Having candid discussions with children will help alleviate stress and enable you to plan ahead. Holding discussions early in the process will allow you to avoid unpleasant surprises and better prepare for potential emergencies.

Before your teenager (or young adult) takes to the open road, here are four financial life lessons that may help keep them on the straight and narrow:

Credit and debit cards: Handled incorrectly or irresponsibly, these plastic cards can lead your children or grandchildren into some hot water. One in four students leaving college has more than $5,000 in debt.[i] One in 10 have more than $10,000 in debt. College students are hot property for eager credit card companies. Teach your teenagers how to use both credit and debit cards and hold them responsible for how they’re used.

When your high school child turns 18 years old they will be receiving plenty of credit card offers in the mail. Make sure they understand that a credit card doesn’t equal free money. If you believe that they should have a credit card, take time to research their options with them. Determine which card makes the most sense with their spending habits and ability to pay. Of course, look at the annual percentage rate and if there are any fees. Teach your college student to track their credit score so they understand how important that number is and how it is affected.

Following a budget: It’s never too late to teach children about developing and adhering to budgets. Budgets help foster financial discipline and provide an important lesson on the value of money. Start by having your teenagers write down their expected income, expenses, and savings.[ii] Make sure they follow their budgets. Focusing on creating a personal budget early in life will help foster financial responsibility into your teenagers lives.

Establishing a savings account: Saving money can provide a few surprising and delightful benefits. Stashing away just $5 a week may sound boring, but once your teenager gets in the habit of saving, the easier it gets. Saving money helps develop discipline and reinforces the value of money.[iii] Encourage your teenagers to save early and often, teaching them about financial responsibility.

Automatically save every month. Modern banking technology makes saving money even easier. Teenage life may be filled with distractions, sending earnest adolescents off into financial traps. But understanding and utilizing sound financial tools may help alleviate some of the heartache. Automated savings—through bill pay or regular money transfers to bank savings accounts—can make it feel like another weekly or monthly expense.[iv] Saving money can become an ingrained habit.

Encouraging your children to work with financial professionals in creating debt-management plans is one of the best approaches. Developing a financial plan early in life helps create disciplined habits of responsible money management that will last a lifetime.

If you would like to discuss your current financial needs or how our Denver investment services can help educate you or your teenager, contact us today for a free financial consultation.

[i] https://www.thebalance.com/credit-card-companies-love-college-students-960090

[ii] https://pocketsense.com/importance-saving-budgeting-teens-3077.html

[iii] https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/031215/why-saving-money-important.asp

[iv] https://www.discover.com/online-banking/banking-topics/automate-your-savings/

Important Disclosure Information

Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Dechtman Wealth Management, LLC [“DWM”]), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from DWM. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. DWM is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the DWM’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request or at www.dechtmanwealth.com.

Please Note: DWM does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to DWM’s web site or blog or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility for any such content. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.

Please Remember: If you are a DWM client, please contact DWM, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. Unless, and until, you notify us, in writing, to the contrary, we shall continue to provide services as we do currently.

Please Also Remember to advise us if you have not been receiving account statements (at least quarterly) from the account custodian.