The piggy bank sitting on your child's night stand probably has coins inside.  But, does your child have a larger understanding about money?  At what age and at what important junctures should you help him/her get a firmer grasp on how money works.

Our approach at The Alexandrite Group is to "train the trainer" by instilling confidence in children about money.  We teach parents how to teach their children that saving pennies can add up to prosperity; how compound interest grows the balance in a bank account; how to avoid getting into uncontrollable debt; and how to put aside money for big and even bigger dreams.

It is never too early to start.  We suggest, "start when your children are young and impressionable."  Children who are empowered as savers today, will be investors tomorrow, and potential creators of wealth in the future.

Working With Parents At The Alexandrite Group, we strongly believe that one of the best ways to raise financially responsible and independent children is by example.  However, we recognize that many parents feel overwhelmed and doubt themselves when speaking to their children about money.  Truth be told - parents are unsure of the topic itself, and do not know where to begin and what to specifically model. That's where The Alexandrite Group can help.  We create a custom curriculum, family by family.  While the core concepts are easy to understand and convey, most parents need the coaching and expert advise that we offer.  We provide age appropriate ideas and suggestions for your children. We cover things like: Spending Saving Sharing Earning We also help parents navigate the money issues that surround having children.  Issues like: Saving and planning for your children’s futures Appropriate ways to give your kids money Deciding age-appropriate allowances We’re happy to explain the use of allowance and how it can be integrated with your family budget. Our motto for instilling financial responsibility in your kids: Start young. Show by example. What do we address? For Young Children: Understanding prices and how they relate to money; Why they can have some things, yet not others; Wants vs. needs; and Saving today means more resources for tomorrow. Financial education for kids should start as early as your child can understand that buying an item or service at a store costs money.  Encourage them to ask questions now so in later years your discussions about finances will be more natural. For Pre-Teens: Budgeting using an allowance; Learning about comparison shopping (value vs. price); Avoid comparing your family’s possessions with those of your best friend’s; Keeping things that you own in good repair; and Choosing simple investment choices. Spending and saving habits could be easily influenced by peer pressure.  Fortunately, parents still have a strong influence at this stage and can steer their pre-teen straight about being dollar-disciplined. For Teenagers: Understanding gross vs. net pay; Paying bills by check and online; Keeping and organizing financial records; Using credit and debit cards responsibly; and Creating a good credit history. Parents may find that during these years it becomes harder for your teen to listen to your ideas and fully accept them.  Do not stop modeling good financial behavior or stop discussing family finances with your teen. We also offer coaching sessions for your teen.  Even teens, occasionally, are willing to listen to an expert. For College-Bound Students: Creating a spending plan; Learning how to apply for loans and understanding interest rates; Investing for the future; Earning money while in school; and Refining wants and needs. Your teen is about to enter college or graduate from high school with their first "real" job.  Many parents wonder if they have properly prepared their children with adequate knowledge concerning finances.  It is never too late to teach financial responsibility.

Why should you give allowance to your child?  Many parents do not give an allowance to their children and offer explanations like:  ‘My kids can have anything they need by asking. If I decide they do not need it, I will not pay for it.,’ or ‘They should not get money for doing household chores.’  Both of these responses are flawed.  The Alexandrite Group believes strongly in the power of allowance to help teach financial responsibility. What happens when your child grows older?  What lessons are you teaching them about saving?  By giving your child a regular income, you can introduce them to money management at an early age and begin to show them the difference between instant gratification and saving for something better.  My kid is no longer a child and I am still supporting him/her. Please help. This is not uncommon.  Young adults are leaving college with mountains of debt and questionable job prospects.  Earning an adequate living to pay off debt is only part of the equation.  At The Alexandrite Group, we work with young adults to teach them how address their financial situations.  We also work with parents, so you can have control over your financial future without feeling obligated or guilty.