What Kids Learn About Money Starts Earlier Than You Think

Think back to the first time you had to manage real money on your own. Maybe it was your first paycheck, your first apartment, or that first credit card offer that showed up in the mail and looked suspiciously like free money.

Most of us learned by trial and error. We spent too much, saved too little, made a few expensive mistakes, and eventually figured out what we probably should have been taught years earlier.

It doesn't have to work that way for the kids in your life.

On Thursday, August 27, Nuvision Credit Union is hosting a free Nuvision Insights webinar, Preparing the Next Generation for Financial Success, for parents, grandparents, and anyone  who wants to help a young person build better money habits before the stakes get higher.

The idea is pretty simple: give kids and teens some real-world financial experience now, help families understand the savings tools available to them, and make money something they learn to manage early on, instead of something they have to figure out the hard way later.

What We're  Going to Talk About

This isn't an hour of financial theory or a lecture about why everyone should save more. We'll be focusing on practical decisions families are  making and the kinds of money lessons that can start at home right now.

529 Plans vs. Trump Accounts

There are more ways than ever to save for a child's future, which also means there are more choices to sort through.

We'll compare 529 plans and Trump Accounts, explain what each is designed to do, and talk through some of the differences parents, grandparents, and family members should understand before deciding which option makes sense for their family.

Saving for College, Trade School, or Whatever Comes Next

Not every kid is headed for a four-year university, and planning for their future shouldn't assume they are.

Whether college is the goal,  or trade school, technical training, entrepreneurship, or another path entirely,. we'll talk about ways families can think more broadly about saving for the years after high school, while keeping future options open.

Why Starting Early Matters

You don't need a huge lump sum to start helping a child financially.

Time can do a lot of the heavy lifting. Small, consistent contributions made over many years can grow into something meaningful, especially when families start early instead of waiting until college or adulthood is right around the corner.

We'll look at why getting started sooner can matter more than trying to make up for lost time later.

Teaching Money at Home

Kids don't really learn how to handle money by hearing adults talk about budgets. They learn by actually having some responsibility for money themselves.

That might mean managing an allowance, saving for something they want, deciding whether to spend now or wait, or learning what happens when they blow the whole thing on something they regret two days later.

Those small experiences matter.

We'll share ways parents and grandparents can create those lessons naturally, without turning every trip to the store into a financial seminar.

Getting Parents and Grandparents on the Same Page

Grandparents often want to help with college, savings, or a child's financial future, but good intentions can get messy when everyone is doing their own thing.

A little coordination can go a long way.

We'll talk about how parents and grandparents can work together, set shared goals, and make sure the money being set aside is actually supporting the future everyone has in mind.

Who You'll Hear From

We've got three experienced financial professionals joining us for the webinar.

Roger Ballard, CEO of Nuvision Credit Union, will kick things off with his perspective on today's financial environment and why helping younger generations build financial confidence matters.

Steve Chmelka, CRC, Senior Retirement Strategies Consultant, with Pacific Life, will walk through the differences between 529 plans and Trump Accounts and help make sense of the options families are hearing more about.

Hiram Carrington, VP of Product Management for Nuvision Credit Union, will talk about the role financial education plays in preparing young people for adulthood, and some of the tools and programs available to help them start building stronger money habits now.

The Details

Thursday, August 27
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. PDT
Live on Zoom

Registration is free for this live event, and you don't have to be a Nuvision member to attend. We'll send the Zoom information after you register.

The goal is for you to gain a clearer picture of some of the tools and programs that you can  use right away, whether you're opening a savings account for a five-year-old, trying to teach a teenager how not to spend every dollar they make, or figuring out how grandparents can help without stepping on anyone's toes.

If you know other parents or grandparents who have been meaning to get more involved with a child's financial future, be sure to share this opportunity with them. Reserve your spot for Preparing the Next Generation for Financial Success

Nuvision Insights is our ongoing webinar series focused on practical financial topics and answering the questions our members and their families are actually dealing with.