Teaching kids about investing is something almost every dividend growth investor thinks about sooner or later. In this episode, we talk openly about how to teach kids about investing without forcing it, making it boring, or turning it into a lecture. We share what has worked in our own households, what hasn’t, and why understanding money matters far beyond just stocks and dividends.
This episode was recorded in 2026. The principles are evergreen, but market conditions, valuations, and individual company circumstances can change over time.

Why Kids and Money Is a Bigger Topic Than Investing

We start by acknowledging a simple truth: not every child will be interested in investing, and that’s okay. The real goal is not to create mini fund managers, but to help kids understand money, effort, and trade-offs. Investing is just one part of that broader picture.

Some kids are naturally curious. Others couldn’t care less. Trying to force interest usually backfires. Instead, the focus should be on making money a normal topic of conversation at home, without pressure or spreadsheets at the kitchen table.

Making Money Feel Real Again

One challenge for this generation is that money is mostly digital. Cards, apps, and screens make it harder to feel the value of what something costs. We talk about translating spending into time worked. Saying “this costs €40” means very little to a child, but saying “this costs four hours of work” lands very differently.

Helping kids earn and save their own money, even in small ways, builds respect for money far faster than any lecture ever could.

Saving First, Investing Later

Before investing comes saving. Learning to delay gratification is a critical skill. If a child can save for something they really want, they’re already learning the foundation of investing.

We discuss practical examples like saving for football boots, gaming equipment, or other personal interests. The lesson isn’t about deprivation. It’s about choice and patience.

Using Familiar Brands to Spark Interest

When investing does come into the conversation, relevance matters. Kids don’t connect with balance sheets, but they do connect with brands they use every day. Seeing that companies behind games, technology, clothes, or food are real businesses can flip a switch.

Allowing kids to follow companies they already know makes investing feel less abstract and more real, even if those early choices aren’t perfect.

Teaching Compounding Without Killing the Buzz

Compound interest is one of the most powerful ideas in investing, but also one of the hardest to teach. We talk about showing compounding through simple examples rather than formulas. Even short conversations can plant seeds that grow later.

The key is repetition. Kids may not show it, but they are listening. The message often sinks in long after the conversation ends.

Debt, “Free” Credit, and Early Lessons

An important part of financial education is understanding debt. Buy-now-pay-later offers and zero-interest plans can look harmless, but they often aren’t. We discuss using real-life scenarios to show how quickly debt can snowball if cash flow doesn’t match repayments.

Teaching kids to save first rather than borrow builds confidence and discipline that lasts far beyond their teenage years.
Not every investment will work out, and that’s part of the lesson. Small losses early on can be valuable teachers. Experiencing both gains and declines helps kids understand that markets don’t only go up.

Companies Mentioned in This Episode

Several well-known companies were mentioned as examples when discussing how kids relate to brands they already know. These included Microsoft, Google, Meta, Unilever, Nike, and Roblox, as well as broad all-world ETFs.

These are mentioned for context, not as recommendations.

Chapters From the Episode
0:00–3:10 – Meeting the community and why this topic came up
3:10–9:30 – Money habits, prices, and everyday decisions
9:30–15:10 – Volatility, markets, and portfolio positioning
15:10–17:45 – Dividend hikes and seasonal expectations
17:45–22:30 – Are kids naturally interested in investing?
22:30–27:30 – Saving, earning, and spending lessons
27:30–33:30 – Compounding, debt, and repetition
33:30–47:55 – Listener questions and portfolio reflections

Where to Go Next

If you’re thinking about long-term investing, compounding, and the mindset needed to stay consistent over decades, these episodes build naturally on today’s discussion:

EP 149 – 5 Things We Wish We Knew When We Started Investing
A reflective episode on early mistakes, mindset shifts, and lessons that would have made the journey smoother if learned sooner.

EP 110 – The Power of Compounding
A focused discussion on why compounding matters so much over time, and why starting early beats almost everything else.

EP 91 – Dividend Growth Investing If We Had to Start Again
A back-to-basics conversation on how we would rebuild a dividend portfolio from scratch with the benefit of experience.

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