This special series is part of CentSai’s commitment to financial literacy at every level. We’re collaborating with financial-education advocate Sam X Renick on a series of short interviews, videos, and tips. Forbes contributor and Sun Group Wealth Partners founder Winnie Sun tells Renick the most important money lesson she learned as a child and shares a tip for teaching kids about money.

Winnie Sun's Childhood Money Lesson

Sam X Renick: What is the most important money habit you learned as a child? Briefly share the story of how you learned the habit and what impact it has had on you throughout your life.

Winnie Sun: When I was a child, my parents were great money examples.

They saved before spending; they worked multiple jobs; and they always believed that they could create a better life for us via entrepreneurship.

It was the best financial education I could have hoped to learn.

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The Most Important Money Lesson to Teach Kids

Renick: If you could teach a child only one money habit, what would it be? Briefly explain why.

Sun: If I could only teach my child one money habit, it would be to save half of everything that he earns. That’s simple, but powerful for anyone’s financial future.

A Final Thought: What If the Research Is Wrong?

Renick: Cambridge University research indicates that adult money habits are set by age seven. What if the research is wrong and adult money habits are formed earlier, perhaps around the age the “give mes” set in? What does this mean for families, schools, and the financial-education industry?

Sun: Money habits are often learned at home, even before our children reach school age. This means that parents shoulder the responsibility of teaching our future generations about how to save, how to handle money decisions, and how to spend. It also means that financial professionals should partner with parents on how to teach their children these important money lessons.

Discover more about Winnie Sun at the Sun Group website.

Take Action: Listen to the song “Lemonade Stand” in this blog with your kids. Then complete the free activities for the song at the Dream Big Club.