Helping Educate Kids with Savings: The Power of Starting Small

Helping Educate Kids with Savings: The Power of Starting Small

May 12, 2025

Most people overcomplicate investing and wealth-building.
They chase the next big thing:

  • The next hot crypto coin

  • A “perfect” stock pick

  • Secret trading strategies

  • Get-rich-quick schemes

But they overlook the most powerful force in investing:
The “boring” magic of consistent investing and compound growth over time.


How It Started: A Lofty Goal for Our Daughter’s Future

Back in 1995, when our daughter was born, we wanted to financially prepare for her college education. After running some numbers, we set a big goal:
$100,000 by the time she turned 18.

It felt very ambitious. But instead of getting overwhelmed, we started small.


The Strategy: $50 a Month, Every Month

We committed to putting just $50 each month into a 529 college savings plan, invested in an aggressive growth stock fund. That was all we could afford—but we stayed consistent.

Fast forward to her senior year of high school...

The account had grown to over $80,000.

Total contributions? About $10,800.
The rest? Compound growth over 18 years.


What If We Had Waited?

I could’ve easily said, “We don’t have enough to invest, so why bother?”
But if I had, we would’ve missed out on $69,200 in gains that helped fund her college education.


The Lesson: Start Small, Stay Consistent

Here’s what that journey taught me. When you have a big goal—whether it’s investing, business, or life—start here:

  1. Set a clear long-term goal

  2. Work backward to find small, consistent actions

  3. Start now (even if it feels tiny)

  4. Trust the process

  5. Let time do the heavy lifting


Final Thought

What small, consistent action can you start today that your future self will thank you for?

Let’s Plan On It!