Nicolas Allen

Would you be willing to delay your retirement to help your child pay for their first car, college education or wedding?

Increasingly a lot of Americans say the answer is yes. According to a recent study publish by Ameriprise Financial, 1 in 3 parents say they have delayed or are willing to delay their retirement to help pay for their children’s college education1. And the financial support often continues in adulthood — parents also help their adult children pay for major milestones such as their first home and weddings, sometimes at their own detriment.

As a financial advisor, I help families grapple with this kind of financial quandary. Here’s the advice I offer parents who want to give their adult children a financial head start without harming their own financial future:

Prioritize saving for your own retirement. It takes many years to accumulate the savings you need to retire comfortably. Your children are likely just starting their careers, while your time remaining in the workforce may be limited to 5, 10 or 15 years. Putting yourself first isn’t a selfish move. It’s about being wise with your money. If you make it a priority to have enough saved when you retire, your kids won’t have to worry about providing you with financial support later in life.

Be strategic with your financial gifts. Like other monetary goals, it’s important to add gifts of cash to your overall financial plan. When you treat cash gifts separately, you shortchange other priorities such as retirement. What will it cost you to divert savings from your retirement plan? With a complete list of financial priorities, you can see how much you need to save to reach them all.

Consider alternate approaches to helping your kids. There may be ways to help your kids other than by dipping into savings. Encourage them to take financial responsibility when they can do so. Your college-bound son or daughter may be able to take out student loans at a low interest rate, which will reduce or eliminate the amount you need to contribute for tuition. Instead of writing a check to help your child buy a car or house, you might co-sign on a loan to help them lock in a lower-interest rate or more favorable repayment terms.

Have conversations about money. Your willingness to talk about your finances is a valuable example for your adult children. So too is your attention to your retirement savings. I encourage parents to invite their adult children to attend a financial planning session with a financial advisor. It’s a time to address money concerns and explore how actions today can affect your future finances.

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Nicolas Allen, CFP^® is a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Fresno, CA. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 12 years. To contact him, consider http://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/nicolas.j.allen, (559) 490-7030 option 2, or 7433 N. First Street, Suite 102 Fresno, CA 93720.