Raising Kids Who Understand Money (Without the Busywork)

If you spend even five minutes on social media, you will see endless videos pitching complex financial hacks for your family. There are influencers everywhere telling you to put your toddler on your company payroll to fund a Roth IRA, which, in reality, is mostly just a great way to trigger an IRS audit. Our founder, Sara Stanich, recently sat down with Caryn on the Wealth with Heart podcast to cut through all of that noise. They had an honest conversation about what actually works for raising financially savvy kids, minus the performative parenting advice.

As Sara points out in the episode, the real worry for parents usually isn't the 18-year-old splurging on something silly. The real worry is the 28-year-old who is still financially dependent on you because they never learned how to navigate the real world.

They talked about the entire kid-money landscape, shifting the focus away from financial busywork and toward practical tools that actually make sense—covering everything from basic allowances to 529 plans and trusts. Sara shared how she handles everyday moments with her own kids, like using Pokémon cards or Disney souvenirs to teach them about trade-offs and about spending their own money.

They also went back to the basics of investing, covering Sara’s one-sentence investing philosophy, why it matters to work with a fee-only fiduciary, and her honest take on where AI falls short with financial decisions today. Plus, Sara gave a sneak peek at her upcoming book, Crossroads, a financial fable designed for women navigating the specific decisions and pivots of peri-retirement.

At Cultivating Wealth, we believe true wealth is about making good decisions so you can feel good about your money. Grab your headphones and listen to the full conversation on Spotify right here.