The Money Conversations Teenagers Actually Need

What should you actually be teaching your teenager about money and when? In this episode of Finerate, CFP® Anastasia Taber and 45-year investment advisor Bill Taber tackle the real, practical money conversations parents should be having with 13-17 year olds, drawing on Bill's firsthand experience raising four financially independent adult children. Anastasia and Bill break down the specific financial "firsts" worth being intentional about, from a teen's first job to their first credit-building move, along with the most common mistake parents make when talking to teenagers about money, and when to adjust your approach based on personality. They also cover Trump Accounts, the new federal child savings account that launched in July 2026, and how it stacks up against a Roth IRA or 529 plans. In this episode, you'll learn: The financial "firsts" every teenager should experience before leaving home What Trump Accounts are, how they work, and whether they're actually a good fit for a working teen compared to a Roth IRA or 529 plan The most common mistake parents make when talking to teenagers about money and how to adjust your approach based on your teen's motivation style Why financial knowledge alone doesn't build financial confidence and what actually does Whether you're the parent of a teenager, planning ahead for one, or curious about what real financial preparation for young adults should look like, this episode offers grounded, experience-based guidance from two financial professionals; one who's done it in his own family, four times over. Finerate is a financial education community helping people move from financial anxiety to financial confidence. Join the waitlist at getfinerate.com.