Teens vs. Parents: Different generations’ thoughts on investing

Many teens are jumping into investing before they even get to high school, creating their own financial adventure. Thanks to custodial accounts and now teen accounts that give young investors more hands-on control, it's not unusual to see younger generations building their portfolios before their parents ever considered buying their first stock. This shift is creating a generational divide worthy of its own coming-of-age film. According to our 2026 Schwab Teen Investing Survey, here's how teens and parents compare across four key areas:

Teens are getting a head start: Nearly 6 in 10 say they became aware of investing before age 13,and one in four teenagers are already investing their own money. Across the board, teens say they're motivated by making money (45%) and the chance to learn something new.

Parents tended to gain awareness of investing later in life and they think it's important for their teens to learn about investing because it teaches them financial responsibility—hopefully steering clear of any "I invested in Blockbuster" moments.

Teens are chasing the latest trends—think tech and AI—and are ready to invest their hard-earned cash from after-school gigs (53%) and maybe a birthday check or two. Their top investing authorities? Parents (83%) and, of course, YouTube.

Meanwhile, parents are expecting their kids to use their job earnings for investing, stick with slow-and-steady portfolios for themselves and trust financial pros to steer the ship. It's the generational investment dance—one side tuned into YouTube, the other to tradition.

And despite the difference in approach, both teens and parents share the same goal: choosing investments that grow money over time.

Turns out, only 23% of teens actually feel ready to tackle investing—and most are sweating about losing their hard-earned cash or stressing over every market hiccup.

Meanwhile, parents have a little more swagger, but they're still biting their nails about their teens' potential losses and those infamous "helpful" tips that can go sideways.

Teens are hoping for parents who play the role of helpful sidekick, not the bossy director, and they're all about calling their own shots. Meanwhile, parents seem determined to be the directors, producers, and occasional scriptwriters of their kids' investing adventures.

In the end, teens want to call the shots, parents want to direct the show, and everyone's just hoping their investments don't end up like "Sharknado 5: Global Swarming."

But the real plot twist? 53% of teens see investing as a way to bond with parents, but only 23% of parents listed bonding as a top goal. So maybe the real win is focusing on learning together—one trend, one tip, and one YouTube video at a time. Think of it as a buddy-movie montage: each scene brings you closer, both picking up new skills along the way.

You can dive deeper into the data in the full Schwab Teen Investing Survey at aboutschwab.com/schwab-teen-investing-survey-2026