One of the Best Lessons I’ve Taught My Boys
If you know me, you know I have a few hobbies. Working out, tennis, and golf tend to fill whatever free time I can find. Between those interests and a full-time job, life can feel pretty full.
And of course, the most important part of my life is my family. My family will always come first. When possible, I try to include them in the things I enjoy. It has been a great way to stay active together and model a healthy lifestyle.
Recently, though, I realized there was another area where I wanted to grow. Not as an advisor. Not as a professional. But as a dad.
I wanted to involve my kids in our family budgeting process.
For some parents, that idea feels uncomfortable. It certainly did for me. I grew up in a household where I was not involved in financial decisions, especially not the family budget. Money meant pennies in a piggy bank or a few birthday dollars tucked into a card. I never really learned how money worked, how it was allocated, or how decisions were made.
As a parent, I want something different for my boys.
I want them to understand the value of money. The discipline of planning. The confidence that comes from making wise financial decisions.
That is what led me to Smart Money Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze. One chapter in particular, “Budgeting: Tell It What to Do,” really challenged me. The authors shared stories of families who brought their children into real conversations about income, expenses, and monthly planning.
It made me realize my boys, at 10 and 13, were more capable than I had assumed.
At the end of 2025, my wife and I sat down with them and built out our annual budget month by month. We mapped out expected expenses, savings goals, and the buckets we wanted to prioritize. I will admit, I enjoyed nerding out with Excel and a few other tools to build out the plan.
I will also admit it was uncomfortable.
Sharing what we earn and what we spend felt vulnerable. We reminded the boys that our family finances are private. This was about education and stewardship, not comparison.
What surprised us most was how quickly they understood the concepts.
They saw that a budget creates guardrails. They understood that every dollar has a purpose. They began connecting everyday decisions to larger goals like vacations, groceries, and long-term savings. They even started volunteering to help more around the house, recognizing that spending choices involve trade-offs.
The hardest part, of course, is sticking to the plan.
But even that became a teaching moment. They are beginning to understand a powerful principle: sacrificing a little now often means having more later.
As parents, we want to give our kids opportunities. One of the greatest opportunities we can give them is financial literacy. Not just through lectures, but through involvement.
One quote from Smart Money Smart Kids that stuck with me is this: more is caught than taught.
“Let them see the process.
Let them ask questions.
Let them participate.”
This is still a work in progress for us. But bringing our kids into the budgeting conversation has already been one of the most meaningful investments we have made as a family.
At the end of the day, planning your family’s finances is not just about spreadsheets or numbers. It is about aligning your money with your values, your goals, and the future you want to build together.
When families take the time to intentionally plan, communicate, and set guardrails, it creates clarity and confidence. It turns money from a source of stress into a tool for opportunity.
And that is a legacy worth building.
If you would like to talk through your financial plan, budgeting process, or long-term goals, I would be honored to be a resource for you and your family.
Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze.
Available at Ramsey Solutions: https://store.ramseysolutions.com/money/books/smart-money-smart-kids-by-dave-ramsey-and-rachel-cruze/
The opinions expressed are those of Strategic Advisory Partners, who reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs. There is no guarantee that their assessment of investments will be accurate. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investing involves risk, including the loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that investment objectives will be met.
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