Are We Setting Our Kids Up for a Successful Launch?


As parents, we want the best for our children. We want them to have fulfilling lives and to achieve their dreams. But are the financial messages they're receiving—both from us and the world—truly preparing them for success?

Our kids are bombarded with commercials and social media feeds that equate worth with what you own. They see a culture that prioritizes instant gratification, from expensive cars to luxury vacations. We might have built our lives and wealth over many years of hard work, but are we inadvertently teaching them that they should have it all right away?

The Homeownership Trap

A common piece of advice many of us have heard is, “renting is just throwing your money away.” While the desire to own a home is a wonderful goal, encouraging a child to buy before their finances are in order can be a recipe for disaster.

Owning a home isn’t just about the mortgage payment. It's about property taxes, insurance, and unexpected repairs—costs that fall to someone else when you rent. Working with clients who bought a home too early and found themselves struggling with the financial burden of maintenance, all while their savings dwindled, has been great reminders of this lesson. Renting can be a strategic period for people to build savings, pay off debt, and learn to manage their finances before taking on the significant responsibilities of homeownership. Want to know if you Should Rent or Buy a House?, see what Rachel Cruze has to say about it.

The Student Debt Dilemma

Another well-intentioned message is that student loans are "good debt" because they're an investment in the future. While education is valuable, the rising cost of college is a serious issue that can burden young adults for decades.

According to data from BestColleges in 2025:

  • The average federal student loan debt is $38,375.

  • 52% of federal student loan borrowers are over the age of 35; 20% are over 50.

  • On average, Black borrowers have higher student debt levels than borrowers of other races.

  • People who attended for-profit colleges are more likely to have gone into student debt.

These numbers show that student debt is not just a problem for recent graduates—it's a long-term burden affecting millions. We can help our children by encouraging them to explore all their options: community college, trade schools, scholarships, and state universities with more manageable tuition costs. The conversation shouldn't be about getting a degree at any cost, but about making a smart, strategic investment in their future.  Preferably not going into debt and paying for school with grants, scholarships, and even working while they are in school.  “Debt-Free Degree” by Anthony O’Neal offers some great insights in how this is truly possible for your kids.  

Continue Reading:

Building a Foundation of Wisdom


The world tells our children to "follow their hearts" and "make their own plans," but as parents, we have an opportunity to offer a different message. We can teach them to "trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

As we still have influence in their lives, let’s be intentional about the financial lessons we teach. Let’s show them that building a solid life is a marathon, not a sprint, and that true security comes from wisdom, planning, and a reliance on faith—not from instant possessions.

Want some help building a financial literacy plan for the kids? Schedule a time to connect today!

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