Help Kids with Finances?
Advice from Kenneth G. Alexander

Q. I would like to help my kids out of their financial problems. We are not rich, but we're comfortable and let's face it, our money will be theirs eventually anyway.

My sister (who is also married and doing fine financially) says this is bad for the kids. What do you think?

A. As responsible parents, we will always feel an obligation to "ease the burden" of our children's difficult experiences.

In this case, I recommend you closely examine your children's spending behavior and the efforts they take to "live within their means".

If their spending behavior is viewed as irresponsible, helping them out will send a clear signal that it's OK to maintain this behavior. The final decision is yours.