At What Age Should Parents Cut the Financial Umbilical Cord?

NEW YORK (AP) — According to data from the U.S. Census, as of November 2023, more than 7 million Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 still live with their parents.

While humans are known for being among the slowest creatures on Earth to reach maturity, many financial professionals suggest parents should typically plan for an empty nest as their children approach their twenties.

The November 2023 Census survey also found young Americans in their twenties and thirties living with their parents have reached the highest level in over 80 years.

Being spared the renter’s burden well into adulthood could help them get a head start on their investing journey. Yet this doesn’t mean these young adults are putting those extra pennies into their portfolios.

Cashed-up kids are actually helping to fuel a boom in luxury shopping on both sides of the Atlantic, according to a report from Morgan Stanley. This can be seen across a range of premium items, with the U.S. overtaking China in sales of luxury Swiss watches last year.

Such extravagant spending at a young age raises questions over whether more tough love is needed. Famed debt-busting guru Dave Ramsey recently railed against the trend, warning young spenders on his show that “you cannot avoid life; it’s coming for your butt. Momma can’t protect you.”

Yet what if parents feel like being protective? Children’s spending is only one half of the equation. New research sheds light on parents’ conflicted attitudes toward supporting their adult kids.

Too Much Support?

Around the start of September 2023, Edelman surveyed over 2,000 Americans aged 30 and above. The survey also reached roughly 1,000 “affluent” respondents aged 45-70, with household assets between $500,000 to $3 million.

Overall, 47 percent of parents interviewed still support their adult children, up from 40 percent in 2022. General costs, cell phone bills, and special purchases are the most common cover for their kids.

Expectations around financial aid seem to be passed down through the generations. Those who received financial support from their parents as adults were almost three times as likely to do the same with their kids.

The results also show that, although finances have become in vogue, many affluent American parents struggle to practice what they preached, sending decidedly mixed signals to their offspring.

Although a whopping 93 percent of affluent parents claimed to encourage their children to be financially independent in the prior year’s report, around half of those respondents are financially supporting their kids, as mentioned earlier.

Cut, Don’t Run

Parents who’ve supported their children for so long may find it hard to say no and turn off the tap. For those who find it hard to deny their children, some financial advisors recommend parents shift their perspective and view withholding cash from their kids as generosity.

“Consider taking the next step and removing the financial support,” says Jonathan Bird, CFP and financial advisor at Farnam Financial. “It’s painful in the short term, but if you’ve given your child the tools and resources they need to be financially independent, letting them be financially independent is the best gift you can offer.”

“If we’re being honest, preaching financial independence while providing non-essential financial support is hypocritical,” he adds.

Others remind them the discomfort of going it alone can help build character as kids mature.

“My advice to clients who have adult children is… don’t enable your kids!” says Kevin Lao, Lead Financial Planner of Imagine Financial Security. “Here I am in my mid-30s giving seniors parenting advice who have children my age! But the reality is I’ve seen the impact of enabling and how detrimental it can be to that adult child’s development.”

“Struggling a little bit financially is healthy, it helps us grow. And if you never allow your adult children to struggle, they will never grow into the potential they have,” he adds.

Everything in Moderation

Although indulging children can be wasteful, some financial advisors say it can be positive, provided it is guided and moderated.

“If clients are in a good financial situation, meaning they can afford to help their kids without it impacting their financial health, and they value helping their kids, I am all for it,” explains Mike Hunsberger, CFP and Owner of Next Mission Financial Planning.

“An example would be clients who want to spend more time with their kids and grandkids who pay for a vacation for the whole family. I think that is a great use of their money.”

Others say that many baby boomer parents realize the next generation hasn’t had it as good as they did.

“I think many parents see that millennials haven’t had the same opportunities they had, so supporting them makes sense—especially when inflation is so high!” says Richard J Archer, CFA, CFP and President of Archer Investment Management. “Additionally, providing ongoing support can be a way for empty nesters to maintain contact with children who’ve moved away.”

One Last Handout?

Parents who feel uneasy about withdrawing financial support should remember that their children will eventually get a payout in the form of an inheritance. Depending on the circumstances, advisors generally suggest leaving the discussion of that until later in their adult child’s life.

“Generally, I don’t recommend discussing inheritance with younger adults who have yet to establish themselves and run under their own power,” says Archer. “It can short-circuit their motivation. Older adults with children, upcoming college costs, and the financial inability to visit aging parents can significantly benefit from gifting and some early inheritance.”

It can be daunting for parents to make a change. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and situations will vary depending on their economic background, lifestyle, family values, and the child’s financial behavior. In any case, having open and honest conversations with children about supporting themselves and setting them on the right path toward achieving financial independence and living their best life.

Liam Gibson | Wealth of Geeks

This post was produced by Wealthtender and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.