When it comes to building generational wealth there are two areas that are important for you to be successful. First, you need to build the assets to pass over to your family. A great financial planner can help put a plan in action to get that done. The second component is ensuring that the next generation is equipped with the knowledge to not only maintain those assets but continue to help them grow to pass on to the next generation and continue the cycle. This second component is what we will cover in this blog.
Back in the day, you could take classes like home economics in high school in the US. You would learn some of the fundamentals of personal accounting to make informed financial decisions. Classes like these are few and far between, creating a bigger chasm in the financial literacy landscape. However, you can still equip your family at home and it doesn’t involve watching hours of C-SPAN. There are several family-friendly games available today that can be used as a teaching tool while also enabling some good, old-fashioned family quality time. Here’s my top two favorites.
1. CASH FLOW
This game, based on the book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Guy Kawasaki, is all about making the right choices to get you from active income (money that you earned by working or taking action) to financial freedom with passive income (money that grows without your direct input). It’s a great game to challenge your thinking on what’s a good investment, what’s really a liability, and balancing short-term wins with long-term wins.
From the game maker:
Play your way out of the rat race by generating passive income through real estate, stocks, companies and more. The updated CASHFLOW starts you in a typical 9-to-5 drag of a job, from there you’ll battle to acquire stocks, houses, apartments, companies and more to build up your passive income until you graduate from the RAT RACE to the FAST TRACK (Where the real money is made).
2. MONOPOLY
The classic property trading game has been a staple in families’ homes for years, but there’s more to learn from that game than just should you purchase Park Place or Marvin Gardens. Monopoly can teach you decision making and how to assess investment potential.
3. Splendor
One of the less likely known games on the list, Splendor is a card game that involves you collecting gems for points to increase your wealth. The value is this game is learning the power of wealth compounding. You don’t start up with much so you have to strategically collect lower value cards/gems and leverage what you earn initially to make larger purchases later. This alludes to investing in real life as well. Your small nest egg can grow to a full wealth tree with the compounding interest that grows your value over time.
From the game maker:
Splendor is a game of chip-collecting and card development. Players are merchants of the Renaissance trying to buy gem mines, means of transportation, shops—all in order to acquire the most prestige points. If you’re wealthy enough, you might even receive a visit from a noble at some point, which of course will further increase your prestige.
Are there any games that you love to play with your family to discuss wealthy and finances?