Investing for children: where to start?

Many parents make investments for their children from an early age, which is a very smart choice, as it can guarantee a more financially secure future and give them more opportunities in the future.

But where should you start this practice? And when should you start? There are several questions that we will answer in this article!

Why invest for your children?

Investing for your children, regardless of when you start, will help them with a little extra money in the future, perhaps even paying for college depending on how much is saved.

This type of practice by parents can ensure that they have access to a quality education, in addition to encouraging children to learn more about finances, as they can be included in the investment process.

In the future, this amount can be used for numerous purposes, whether for tuition fees, extracurricular activities or even to make dreams come true in the future.

And when to start?

And the ideal time to start investing for your children is as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the more you can save for your children, and the more advantages they will have in the future.

By starting early, you will have more time for your money to grow and appreciate over the years.

Allowing even small amounts invested to turn into a significant sum over time, thanks to the ability to reinvest the income generated by investments.

Another important detail is that by starting early, it is possible to make smaller and regular deposits, but over time they can yield a lot.

Remember that this should not impact your main expenses, and you should not mirror what other people deposit for their children, as each family has a different financial situation.

Where to start investing for children?

Here are some tips to help you know where to start investing for your children.

Objectives

When thinking about investing for your children, it doesn't make much sense to set a goal for money. Instead, set goals for values that you want to achieve, which are more tangible.

The purpose for which the money will be used will be chosen when your child is older and can make decisions. It could be investing in a dream, in high school, in interesting activities or other things.

Create a budget

Based on your reality, it is necessary to create a budget of how much will be deposited in the chosen type of investment, and how often this will be done.

Analyze your finances and create a budget to determine how much you can set aside for your children’s investments on a regular basis. It’s important to make sure your own financial obligations are up to date as well.

Choose the right investment options

Research and study the different investment options available, such as savings accounts, fixed income securities, investment funds, private pension plans, among other alternatives.

Based on your goals and risk analysis, select the most suitable investments for your children. If you are looking to minimize risk, a great tip is to diversify these investments.

Open an account for your children

Depending on the options you choose, it may be a good idea to open an account in your children's names to start investing. 

Teach financial education

From childhood, start teaching your children about financial education, so that they can know how to manage money when it actually falls into their hands.

This way, they can learn to save and invest from an early age, so that they will be more responsible adults with their finances in the future.

Types of investments for children

Now that you know more about how to start investing for your children, see the types of investments that can be chosen.

Savings Account

The most common thing that parents usually do for their children is to save money, as it is something safer and, generally, low risk.

This is a bank account, which as soon as the child is born and has a CPF, can be opened at any financial institution. 

A savings account is a bank account into which money can be deposited regularly, and usually offers interest on the amount being deposited.

Treasury Direct

O Treasury Direct It is an option considered low risk and safer than normal, in addition to being offered by the Government so that people can purchase bonds in an accessible and practical way.

There are different types, such as Tesouro Selic, Tesouro Prefixado and IPCA+. When choosing this type of investment, we can notice more security, since the issuer is the government.

And although they are not very profitable, they are still more profitable than savings and offer great flexibility due to the range of securities available.

Investment funds

Investing in investment funds is interesting for those who want to diversify, because it offers several assets and resources, such as shares, bonds, real estate and much more.

The profitability of investment funds varies according to the performance of the assets in which you invest. That is why, when investing in investment funds, you will need a broker or a manager to do so.

Stocks and stock funds

Investing in actions or in equity funds can be an option for those seeking more expressive returns over time, although they involve greater risk.

This type of investment offers the opportunity to earn significant returns over time, as shares have the potential to appreciate in value.

Furthermore, when you are investing in this type of resource, you have the possibility of teaching your child in practice how the financial world works.

However, stocks and stock funds are very volatile, so they end up presenting much more risk. Therefore, do not bet all your chips on this type of investment; try to diversify so as not to suffer losses.

And it is also for this reason that it is necessary to analyze and research in depth the asset market and the shares you are looking to invest in. If possible, count on the help of professionals in the area.