With Black Friday behind us and Christmas fast approaching, many will be gearing up for travel, spending time with loved ones and, of course, checking off those holiday shopping lists. And while you may be dazzled by this year’s "Hottest Tech Gifts" or "Must-Have Toys," consider giving gifts that will keep on giving long after the holidays, especially when it comes to kids and young adults.
When I was 12 years old, my grandfather gave me what I thought was the worst Christmas gift ever—shares of a publicly traded stock. Typically, he would give us a cash gift, so this was new and unexpected. He showed me how to look up the stock in the newspaper and track the price. Along with the gift, he taught me about long-term investing, dividends, and other valuable investing lessons. The stock went up and down with varying economic events, but we never sold. The stock happened to perform well, and when I turned 22, the worst Christmas gift ever became the down payment for my first home.
While there are seemingly endless gift options this holiday season, consider one of the non-traditional presents below to help put your loved ones on the path to success:
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
SparkGift: A great alternative to cash (or clothes that kids grow out of), SparkGift offers a simple way to gift shares of stock or mutual funds hassle-free. The site lets you buy fractional shares of individual stocks and shares in a variety of exchange-traded funds, and you can spend anywhere from $20 to $2,000. This concept can serve as a great way teach kids about investing or saving. And, if the recipient holds on to it for a long time period, that gift can keep on giving.
Banking Basics: With most schools on break, December could be a great time to teach kids and young adults about money. Whether it’s a traditional piggy bank or a bank account, it’s important to start the savings conversation sooner than later. Helping a child establish their first account – a foundation of financial education – creates an opportunity to teach about savings, fees and interest. Rather than just opening an account at your current bank, ask your kids to help you research finding the right bank. Understanding the basics and developing good habits early on can be very beneficial to their financial future.
Start a 529: Known as a qualified tuition plan, a 529 is a savings plan designed to cover future education costs at qualified colleges across the U.S. It offers great tax benefits and an option to make a one-time contribution or set up continuous payments. Opening or contributing to the plan for the holidays is yet another opportunity to discuss the ins and outs of finances with your loved ones. Also, consider asking relatives to contribute to the plan as part of their gift—with minimum contributions starting as low as $50, family members can partake in setting up kids and young adults for a lifetime of success.
Taylor Schulte, CFP® is founder and CEO of Define Financial, a San Diego-based fee-only firm. He is passionate about helping clients accumulate wealth and plan for retirement.
-
The Most Popular Apps for Retirement Planning in 2025A J.D. Power survey ranks retirement planning apps based on customer service and satisfaction. Does your financial app make the cut?
-
Don't Disinherit Your Grandchildren: The Hidden Risks of Retirement Account Beneficiary FormsStandard retirement account beneficiary forms may not be flexible enough to ensure your money passes to family members according to your wishes. Naming a trust as the contingent beneficiary can help avoid these issues. Here's how.
-
Don't Disinherit Your Grandchildren: The Hidden Risks of Retirement Account Beneficiary Forms
Standard retirement account beneficiary forms may not be flexible enough to ensure your money passes to family members according to your wishes. Naming a trust as the contingent beneficiary can help avoid these issues. Here's how.
-
This Is How Life Insurance Can Fund Your Dreams NowBeyond a death benefit, life insurance can provide significant financial value and flexibility through 'living benefits' while you are still alive, helping with expenses like education, business ventures or retirement.
-
Potential Trouble for Retirees: A Wealth Adviser's Guide to the OBBB's Impact on RetirementWhile some provisions might help, others could push you into a higher tax bracket and raise your costs. Be strategic about Roth conversions, charitable donations, estate tax plans and health care expenditures.
-
One Small Step for Your Money, One Giant Leap for RetirementSaving enough for retirement can sound as daunting as walking on the moon. But what would your future look like if you took one small step toward it this year?
-
This Is What You Really Need to Know About Medicare, From a Financial ExpertHealth care costs are a significant retirement expense, and Medicare offers essential but complex coverage that requires careful planning. Here's how to navigate Medicare's various parts, enrollment periods and income-based costs.
-
I'm a Financial Planner: Could Partial Retirement Be the Right Move for You?Many Americans close to retirement are questioning whether they should take the full leap into retirement or continue to work part-time.
-
From Mortgages to Taxes to Estates: How to Prepare for Falling Interest RatesAs speculation grows that the Federal Reserve will soon start lowering interest rates, now is a good time to review your financial plans for housing, estate, taxes, investing and retirement to make the most of potential changes.
-
This Is How Lottery Winners Build Lasting Legacies, From a Financial ProfessionalWinning a massive lottery jackpot, like the recent $1.4 billion Powerball, requires seeking immediate legal and financial counsel, protecting your identity and winnings and planning your legacy.
