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From Sprout to Sequoia

Planting the tree to financial success in our kids.
Family + Foundations

Investing for Kids: From Sprout to Sequoia

Planting the tree to financial success starts young. When kids learn to save, invest, and own their choices, they build more than money — they build responsibility, discipline, confidence, and a “can-do” mindset that lasts a lifetime.

Coach mindset: You can help fund the account — but they should practice the saving decisions (the good and the messy). Mistakes are tuition. Better to learn young than late.

Why This Matters

  • Protects them from high-interest debt traps later.
  • Builds financial responsibility and self-discipline.
  • Teaches perseverance and patience (the real superpower).
  • Creates confidence through small wins that compound.
Responsibility Self-Discipline Security Confidence

Make It a Game

Kids learn faster when money feels like a challenge, not a lecture. Use goals + milestones + small rewards (not rescues).

Mission 1: Pick a goal (toy, bike, trip, college, first car).
Name it. Price it. Give it a deadline.
Mission 2: Choose a weekly saving amount.
$5/week beats $0/week. Consistency wins.
Mission 3: Celebrate milestones (25%, 50%, 100%).
Celebrate progress, not perfection.

Saving & Investing for Kids: Simple Options

1) Piggy Bank (Young Kids)

Start with spare change and gift money. The goal is habit-building.

  • Make it visible (kitchen counter, shelf).
  • Split jars: Save / Spend / Give.
  • Do a monthly “bank day” deposit.

2) Kid Savings Account

A safe place to practice deposits, statements, and goals.

  • Set an automatic transfer (weekly or per allowance).
  • Track progress toward a goal.
  • Teach interest: “Your money can grow while you sleep.”

Helpful: Investing for Kids →

3) Kid/Teen Brokerage Account

For learning long-term ownership (and patience).

  • Start small and keep it simple.
  • Focus on quality companies or broad index funds.
  • Teach: “We buy businesses, not lottery tickets.”

Helpful: Brokerage Firms for Kids →

Important: If they overspend, don’t rush in to fix it. That’s the lesson. Responsibility is built when choices have consequences.

Growth Game: “If I Save This Much…”

Use this to show kids how small weekly savings can grow over time. (Educational estimate — markets and returns vary.)

$
.
.
Try 4–8% for examples.
Parent coaching prompt: Ask, “Do you want to be a spender tree or a grower tree?” Then let them choose — and own it.

Spending Skills (Debit Card Rule)

A debit card can be a great teacher — if there are real limits.

  • Set a weekly spending cap.
  • Use “pause before purchase” (30 minutes for small, 24 hours for big).
  • When it’s gone, it’s gone. No instant rescue.

Entrepreneurship Counts

Lemonade stand, dog walking, babysitting, lawn care — kids learn money faster when they earn it.

  • Create a simple “profit plan”: revenue − costs = profit.
  • Save a percentage of profits (start with 20–30%).
  • Track progress monthly and celebrate growth.

Join the Fiscal Investor “Giant Sequoia”

Want more kid-friendly tools, challenges, and simple teaching scripts? Subscribe and grow the forest together.

Sign up for the Fiscal Investor Giant Sequoia →

Questions or concerns? Email us at info@fiscalinvestor.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

Saving and Investing teach financial responsibility, self-discipline, security, perseverance, self-confidence, and can-do attitude

Starting at a young age, you will be doing kids a wonderful service. It will be one of the best educations you can teach them over the years. Making saving and investing a game, kids will quickly see the rewards of being a Fiscal Investor.

There will be many tools and calculators to help you with the process but here is an example of growth over the years.

How Small Monthly Savings Can Grow

Starting early matters more than saving a lot.

Monthly Contribution Value at Age 18 Value at Age 25
$5 $2,158 $4,333
$10 $4,318 $8,666
$25 $10,795 $21,666
$50 $21,589 $43,332
$100 $43,179 $86,664
$250 $107,949 $216,661

Illustrative example assuming an average 8% annual return. Returns are not guaranteed.

You are the coach and educator of our kids teach them well and before long they will be teaching and reminding you! We are all striving to be the Fiscal Investor.

Sign up for the Fiscal Investor Giant Sequoia!

Please reach out to info@fiscalinvestor.com with any concerns you may have. We look forward to hearing from you.