Podcast
Smart Money Parenting - Video Edition
Hosted by Scott Donnell and Chad Willardson · EN
What would the world be like if we had 50 million kids financially competent and ready to succeed in the real world?
That's exactly what we're gonna do with the Smart Money Parenting Show. Each week, we're gonna bring you great content to raise great kids as amazing parents.
How do you keep your kids from not being only focused on themselves? Quickest way to keep your kids from being spoiled brats?
I'm the founder of GravyStack and a tech entrepreneur that serves over 8 million kids across the country. I'm the author of Smart, not Spoiled, helping kids be financially ready for their future.
I'm investing over a billion dollars for other people entrusted to make good money decisions and ... we're Dads.
Lots of ideas, parenting hacks, and great guests talking about how to talk to kids about money. Smart Monday Parenting.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
50. Stop doing things for your kids, just do things with them
Aug 15, 202300:16:46Tap to summarizeStop doing things for your kids, just do things with them. Mentioned in This Episode: gravystack.com/smart gravystack.com/igniter smartmoneyparenting.com smartmoneyparenting.com/followus Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell
Transcribe →Special Treatment Damages Your Kid's Future
Aug 1, 202300:18:08Tap to summarizeDoes your kid think they're better than everyone else? Scott Donnell and Chad Willardson discuss how thinking your kids deserve special treatment damages their future. They also reveal a better way to motivate your kids and make them feel proud of their accomplishments. Chad and Scott agree that the best parents tell their kids, "you're special to me." Not, "you deserve special treatment." According to Chad, telling your kids they deserve special treatment makes them walk around with a chip on their shoulder. Scott's definition of humility - a clear self-estimation of who you are in the world. For Scott, true self-esteem is built by letting your kids know that they are special to you. Not telling them that they deserve special treatment. Although you'd want to love your kids as much as possible, you must also give them an accurate view of their place in the world. Chad talks about the unfortunate reality of modern parenting. Telling your kids that they're superior doesn't build self-esteem; it breeds narcissism. Scott and Chad agree that if you teach your kids to believe they are superior to everyone else and they deserve special treatment, you're setting them up for failure later in life. Chad's golden rule of parenting - praise and reward effort, not outcomes. Your kids cannot control the outcome. But they can control their effort and their attitude. Scott goes over the long-term consequences of parents doing everything for their kids. For Chad, doing everything for a child might initially sound harmless, but parents must also consider the long-term consequences of raising their kids in a bubble. Chad and Scott discuss the foundational elements of a smart money parent. Scott covers ways parents can teach their kids how to create value in the real world. Scott talks about the confidence and capability matrix - and why it's so important for kids to start building concrete capabilities. Chad and Scott agree that it's cheaper and safer for your kids to fail at home than in the real world. Scott shares a crazy hiring story where a parent accompanied their child to a job interview. According to Chad, failure in kids is okay - kids need to experience and overcome failure if they are to succeed in the real world. What to do the next time you find yourself trying to get special treatment for your kids. Scott and Chad discuss the detrimental consequences of entitled parents trying to get their kids special treatment. Mentioned in This Episode: gravystack.com/smart gravystack.com/igniter smartmoneyparenting.com smartmoneyparenting.com/followus Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell
Transcribe →Dive Deep into 529s with The College Investor
Jul 28, 202300:32:46Tap to summarizeHow do you save for your children's education? Scott Donnell and Chad Willardson welcome the "accidental financial guy," Robert Farrington from The College Investor.com. They discuss when it's a good time to start teaching your children about money, the Y.E.S. acronym, why 529 plans are worth looking into, and the different approaches you could have, in regards to saving for college, depending on your children's age. Robert Farrington, who labels himself an "accidental financial guy," starts the conversation by sharing his story and how we got to where he is today with The College Investor. Robert focuses on introducing children to money because he believes that "the earlier you start to build wealth, the less money it takes" – plus, you have time working in your favor. Starting as early as you can, obviously with age-appropriate money education for your child, is something Robert recommends to all parents. It's about understanding the why, and helping children understand it, says Robert. Moreover, you should also teach children about earning money from a young age. There are different ways children can earn money: chores, household projects, saving money gifts (e.g. from birthdays), but also things outside the house, like small works or recycling, for instance. Even if your children ask about something you do know about, it's very easy to get yourself informed today through podcasts, blogs, and YouTube channels. Robert always likes to approach paying for college using the Y.E.S. acronym: you, Educational savings, and then general savings. Robert's suggestion is to use the oxygen mask analogy and take care of yourself first, also because there are several ways to navigate education – grants, scholarships, financial aids, different school choices, etc. Chad points out that many parents over-invest in putting money away for college and then under-invest in their own retirement. This is a mistake because you can't get scholarships, grants, or student loans for retirement… For Robert, getting a 529 plan or leverage taxable investing are the two bread and butter ways to approach saving for education. Beware: there are plans that are marketed nationally, but they're all housed by states. Typically, a plan is based on the rules of the state of the account owner, usually a parent. Many people are afraid of the taxes and the 10% penalty you'd have to pay if you pulled money out of the account for non-qualifying expenses. Robert brings up an idea of how a family could use a 529 plan to create an "education trust" of sorts. Remember: a parent could be the account owner of a 529 plan. This is important to keep in mind because while 529 plans do impact your financial aid (though they only count towards 5.64% on the FAFSA), grandparent-owned 529 plans don't impact your financial aid one bit. Robert, Chad, and Scott talk about what happens if your child receives a scholarship, as well as the life insurance side of things, and when you should tell your children that you're saving for their education. People who struggle the most with student loans are the ones that never graduated college. Robert shares his advice for both parents with very young children and for those with older ones – including the approach he has with his own kids. Mentioned in This Episode: gravystack.com/smart gravystack.com/igniter smartmoneyparenting.com smartmoneyparenting.com/followus TheCollegeInvestor.com The College Investor Audio Show The College Investor on YouTube - @thecollegeinvestor The College Investor on TikTok - @thecollegeinvestor Previous episode - TRIGGER WARNING: Shocking Stats About College Backer.com Upromise.com Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell
Transcribe →TRIGGER WARNING: Shocking Stats About College
Jul 25, 202300:22:20Tap to summarizeHow do you prepare your kids for college? And what about you – how do you prepare yourself? In today's episode, hosts Scott Donnell and Chad Willardson discuss what parents should think about and do when it comes to their children potentially going to college. They share some stats related to education quality and student loan debts, the "financial handcuffs" trap, and what a good gap year actually looks like. Scott kicks off the conversation mentioning a few facts about education, like the fact that education rates are higher than ever. Even though an impressive amount of families really value education, Scott doesn't believe that everyone should get thousands of dollars in student loans to get a degree. In 2021, the total amount of student debt by 44 million borrowers exceeded $1.7 trillion. However, only about 55% of students pursuing a bachelor's degree actually complete it. Chad raises the question of whether it's worth paying thousands of dollars while, today, education is really happening online… According to a 2021 report of best colleges, 76% of students believe that online learning is actually better and more productive than, or at least equal to, on-campus learning. Scott says it clearly: college is not the only answer to ensure a child's success. Scott points out some of the advantages of going to college and warns about what parents should be on the lookout for. Chad and Scott mention the fact that many companies don't look at degrees but focus on people's attitudes when hiring them. Level 7 of the GravyStack app addresses the concept of the ROI of college. When approached the wrong way, student loans can be a "financial handcuff" young people will need to deal with for the rest of their life. Scott and Chad share their college prep advice, and talk about what a good gap year actually is. Chad shares the story of a couple that had a different way to approach their children's college journey. Mentioned in This Episode: gravystack.com/smart gravystack.com/igniter smartmoneyparenting.com smartmoneyparenting.com/followus Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell
Transcribe →What is Inflation and Why Does It Matter?
Jul 21, 202300:16:04Tap to summarizeHow do you explain what inflation is to your kids? Scott Donnell and Chad Willardson talk about inflation, what it is, why it matters, and how to explain it to your kids. Chad starts the conversation by revealing the leading driver of inflation in the US. According to Chad, if your money isn't growing, it's losing a lot of its purchasing power and becoming less valuable. If you're spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a college education, ensure your kids learn valuable and practical things so they don't graduate with a ton of debt and no skills. Chad talks about the difference between inflation and deflation. Scott explains how inflation and rising prices affect low-income households. For Scott, inflation is like a monster that can slowly eat away at what you have. Chad and Scott agree that learning to create more value is the best hedge against inflation. The statistics show that if you have a credit card, you are psychologically going to spend 30% more money. Chad and Scott talk about the benefits of having your money work for you. Chad goes through ways parents can make their kids understand why prices always go up in an economy. Scott reveals why you need to be aware of the things that can quickly dry up your bank account. Scott and Chad agree that saving and investing are critical for protecting yourself against inflation - always make more than you spend so that you can have something to save and invest. Scott reveals the two areas that prove inflation exists - rising health and medical costs. Mentioned in This Episode: gravystack.com/smart gravystack.com/igniter smartmoneyparenting.com smartmoneyparenting.com/followus Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell
Transcribe →The Impact of Advertising on Your Kids
Jul 18, 202300:18:32Tap to summarizeDo your kids understand how advertising works? In this episode, Scott Donnell and Chad Willardson talk about the impact of advertising on kids. They discuss how learning to decode the message behind an ad is an essential skill for kids and adults alike. Scott and Chad start the conversation by describing how advertising works and the tricks marketers use to get people's attention. You need to understand that every business is trying to sell you something, whether it's a good or bad business. Chad explains how the average person sees hundreds of thousands of advertisements daily - all used to influence, persuade, and get you to think a certain way and buy a certain thing. What is the best defense against sneaky advertising? For Scott, you must teach your kids to decode the message behind the ad. Did you know that your attention is being bought and sold? We live in a world where to influence, communicate, or sell anything to potential buyers, you must capture their attention. Chad and Scott highlight how attention is now the most valuable resource in the world. Scott goes through ways to help your kid develop a strong sense of identity. Scott and Chad agree that ads are everywhere. Everywhere you turn, you're likely to come across a print, digital, or recorded ad. Scott explains subliminal advertising and how marketers use intentional messaging, sounds, or visuals to get you to buy something. Chad shares the questions you can ask your kids to help them understand how advertising works. Chad explains ways to teach kids to resist advertising and become smart consumers. Scott reveals the techniques marketers use to target deep childhood wounds and get you to buy their products. How to make your kids understand the difference between wants and needs. Chad and Scott discuss why a 30-second Super Bowl ad costs hundreds of millions of dollars. Advertising is everywhere; your kids cannot escape it. Scott goes through lessons parents can use to teach their kids to be advertising-savvy consumers. Chad explains the link between advertising, consumerism, and materialism. Mentioned in This Episode: gravystack.com/smart gravystack.com/igniter smartmoneyparenting.com smartmoneyparenting.com/followus Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell
Transcribe →What Do Your Kids Do When Nobody's Watching?
Jul 14, 202300:18:28Tap to summarizeWhy is integrity important? What do your kids do when no one's watching? In this episode, Scott Donnell and Chad Willardson discuss why integrity is an important trait in kids. They cover ways parents can teach their kids character and ensure they take responsibility for their actions, especially when nobody's watching. Chad starts the conversation by sharing a sad situation where two young adults caused an accident, looked at the damage, laughed, and walked away. For Chad, the situation shows that kids nowadays lack integrity. He explains that integrity teaches children to take responsibility for their actions, even when nobody's watching. Scott highlights how integrity can be tricky to teach kids because it's not as clear-cut as explaining honesty or kindness. When you make mistakes, you have to take accountability. And it doesn't matter if you think no one's watching. Your reputation is the only asset you cannot afford to lose because you cannot get it back. Chad explains the role of integrity in developing self-confidence - and how parents can teach it to their kids by modeling honesty at home. Scott talks about the benefits of building and protecting your reputation as a kid. According to Chad, if you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. Chad explains that you want your kids to be smart with money, be successful, and do great things in life. But if they're not doing it with integrity, nothing else matters. Scott reveals why parents should teach their kids to do the right thing when no one's watching. Because the moment they turn 18, and they leave the nest, you're not watching them anymore. Teach your kids that becoming more trustworthy is the secret to getting more freedom. You get rewarded in public for the great decisions you make in private. Scott and Chad agree that the greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires but in his integrity and ability to affect those around him positively. If you're unsure about your integrity, Scott believes now is a good time to assess all aspects of your life and start setting a good example for your kids. Mentioned in This Episode: gravystack.com/smart gravystack.com/igniter smartmoneyparenting.com smartmoneyparenting.com/followus Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell
Transcribe →Until Further Notice, Celebrate Everything
Jul 11, 202300:16:20Tap to summarizeHow often do you high five your kids? In today's episode, hosts Scott Donnell and Chad Willardson discuss the benefits of recognizing and celebrating your children's accomplishments, big or small. They also cover why you should praise their efforts and encourage them to pursue their interests and passions. Chad starts the conversation by describing how much morale you can boost in your home by having a positive attitude. The best way to raise a confident kid is to celebrate them. Chad explains how celebrating the little things can create memories that stick with your kids for life. Chad goes through daily moments you can celebrate with your kids at home. Scott and Chad agree that you can change how a kid views something by celebrating it. Scott highlights that celebrating your kids is not about giving them false confidence - because false confidence means a lack of ability. Celebrating is an instant mood changer - think of how a kid instantly lights up when you give them a high five. Chad talks about the benefits of high-fiving your kids on all the little things that they do. According to Chad, parents should celebrate effort, not just celebrate results. It's not always about winning and losing or getting the award. For Scott, celebrating your kids bolsters their self-esteem, their mental health and their ability to take on the world. You want that in your kids. Remember that there are a million little opportunities every day you can use to celebrate your kids. Scott reveals the best marriage advice he ever got - Praise the good in your spouse as much as humanly possible and then leave the rest to God. According to Scott, finding ways to celebrate the little moments every day is not just going to lift your kids up, it's going to lift you up, too. Mentioned in This Episode: gravystack.com/smart gravystack.com/igniter smartmoneyparenting.com smartmoneyparenting.com/followus Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell
Transcribe →Give Your Kids Roots and Wings
Jul 7, 202300:19:41Tap to summarizeAre you a connected family? What is the importance of strong family ties? In today's episode, hosts Scott Donnell and Chad Willardson discuss ways parents can give their kids roots and wings. Roots - give them a sense of belonging and knowing where home is. Wings - give them the freedom to explore and conquer the world. You want them to stay rooted in your family culture, but you also want them to fly off and conquer the world. Are families being destroyed? In 1960, 72% of families had a nuclear family. Today, it's just 45%, and if you're an urban inner-city family, it's just 1%. Chad explains how families are being destroyed with modern leaders pushing for individualism and selfishness. For Scott, your goal as a parent is to have a family that is connected as much as possible. How do you kill a family culture? Scott explains how taking away the chief storyteller kills the culture and connectedness of a family. Scott talks about the value of raising independent kids with the goal of cultivating interdependence and remaining connected to each other. Every family has some form of crazy. But what you can do is take the good, leave the bad and make it better for your kids and the next generation. According to Scott, kids will stay a part of the family if they see you're still connected to your family. If you grew up in a dysfunctional home, as many people have, Chad believes you can be the one that breaks that chain of dysfunction. According to Scott, strong family values are the best way to preserve your family culture. Make them fun, memorable, and engaging. Scott goes through the practical things parents can do to unite the nuclear family when the extended one is in chaos. Make decisions for your great-grandchildren. Scott explains how the decisions you make today with your kids will impact future generations. Scott reveals the shocking driver behind public schools in 1917 - and the systemic plan to remove parents from their children's lives. Mentioned in This Episode: gravystack.com/smart gravystack.com/igniter smartmoneyparenting.com smartmoneyparenting.com/followus Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell
Transcribe →Rich vs. Wealthy: What Does it Mean to Have True Wealth?
Jul 4, 202300:14:01Tap to summarizeWhat is the difference between wealthy and rich? In today's episode, hosts Scott Donnell and Chad Willardson discuss the differences between being wealthy and being rich, as well as how kids can learn to differentiate between the two. Scott starts the discussion by describing how true wealth differs from being rich. Chad doesn't particularly like the term "rich" because owning a bunch of status symbols to keep up with the Joneses is not an actual benchmark of success. For Chad, a massive house and an expensive car do not tell you anything about a person's financial situation. Chad and Scott agree that rich is loud and wealth is quiet, most of the time. They further explain that true wealth is built brick by brick over time and living like nobody else today so you can live like no one else tomorrow. According to Scott, these super-expensive status symbols come with a lot of baggage if you don't have wealth. Chad believes trying to be rich is an anxious lifestyle, but living wealthy is real freedom. So kids should aim for wealth instead of riches. You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. Teach your kids that there's a very big difference between being rich and being wealthy - but it's almost impossible to tell from the outside. According to Chad, there's nothing wrong with owning a big house or a nice car - as long as you can afford it and live within your means. Wealth is wealth. You either have it or you don't. Chad and Scott discuss how the so-called financial gurus mislead people with get-rich-quick schemes that rarely work in the real world. If you own a bunch of nice stuff, Scott believes you should attempt to consistently communicate to your kids about how fortunate you are to be financially stable. For Scott, being wealthy is when you make wise money decisions, have your finances in order, and own assets that can withstand the test of time. Mentioned in This Episode: gravystack.com/smart gravystack.com/igniter smartmoneyparenting.com smartmoneyparenting.com/followus The Billionaire Who Wasn't: How Chuck Feeney Secretly Made and Gave Away a Fortune by Conor O'Clery Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell
Transcribe →
