Investing
Zoe Team and Blaine Thiederman MBA, CFP® (Zoe Network Advisor)
7 min read
Teach children to research their market value using tools like PayScale or Glassdoor.
Encourage them to understand company goals to justify salary requests during negotiations.
Help them grasp equity compensation types and tax implications early to build wealth effectively.
Encourage them to research market salary data, understand the employer’s specific needs, and practice confident communication to justify their value.
It refers to benefits like stock options or restricted stock units (RSUs) that provide employees with company ownership potential.
Early financial literacy helps young professionals manage high salaries, navigate taxes, and build long-term wealth through strategic planning.
When it comes to important advice for your adult children, financial education should always be top of mind. After graduating from college, they’ve already met important milestones, ones you will never forget. However, it’s time to teach them how to become financially independent, which is no easy task. Your child can also become a high-earner at an early age, and it starts with negotiation.
Having children is one of the most fulfilling experiences of our lives, it’s a milestone. We live for those who call us “mom” or “dad,” and we revolve around the memories they get to create and the futures they’ll build. We see them graduate and they’re one step closer to becoming independent adults.
By this time, we begin to dream of seeing them graduate from the best universities in the country, ready to pursue their dreams and become professionals, adults. And even though our love for them is endless, and we will forever support our children, they are Americans’ toughest financial burden.
After 22+ years of standing beside your children and holding their hands as they accomplish and aim for their biggest dreams, they are almost ready to fly on their own. The missing piece? A guideline on how to achieve financial freedom as a young adult. Help your soon-to-be financially independent children learn all about their personal finances and, most importantly, how to negotiate high-earner salaries once they begin their professional journeys.
Negotiating high-earner pay can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking the right approach and mindset, you can teach your children how to secure a better compensation package effectively and confidently.
Rather than writing an article for you, this is an article for you to discuss with your children or even send it for them to read and act upon. You are their best example, but what they do from now on to reach their goals is up to them.
This is probably not new to you, you’ve already been here, and the best way to teach is by example. The first lesson for young adults is to remind them of their worth in the job market. Many recent graduates don’t take the time to think about their equity compensation at the start of their careers. For one, they know the experience is the most valuable outcome. They’re also likely aware that they will not start at the top but rather build their career up. And finally, they’ll always know they can count on your support along the way.
The important thing is, the sooner they understand their value, the sooner they become independent. Depending on the industry they’re entering, there are different points of reference to help determine their market value by comparing skills, experience, and qualifications to those of other professionals in similar roles.
PayScale.com is a popular website for salary research. PayScale offers a free salary report tool that enables you to input your job title, location, years of experience, and other relevant information to get a personalized salary report. In addition, the report provides information on your children’s market value, including base salary, bonuses, and benefits.
Glassdoor.com is another website for salary research. This website offers a calculator that provides a salary range for different positions, based on data from thousands of job listings and anonymous salary reports. The calculator also provides information on company ratings, reviews, and interview questions for various companies.
It’s crucial to note that these websites are only a starting point for research. While they can provide valuable information on salary ranges, they may not be wholly accurate or up-to-date. It’s important to consider other factors, such as the company’s size, location, and industry when negotiating a salary.
Your children have additional resources offered by a modern and interconnected world. It’s also important to remind them of traditional networking methods and talk to others in their industry of interest to better understand what is considered fair compensation. Contact colleagues, attend industry events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn to expand your network and gain valuable insights. The resources are almost infinite when they are maximized.
To effectively negotiate a salary, and start in-house, it’s important to understand the company’s needs and what they are looking for in an employee. This will help tailor the negotiation strategy to their specific requirements.
Critical questions to position your value:
How can you contribute to the company’s success?
How are your skills highlighted in this role, and how do they help achieve the company’s goals?
Why are you a good investment for this company? And how is your requested compensation justified?
Confidence is essential when negotiating your salary. The biggest advice for your children in this chapter of their lives is “believe in yourself and your abilities, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you deserve.”
Besides the general mistakes, knowledge is what will distinguish your child the most in their entry-level position. Awareness is key, and knowing about different types of equity compensation is another important tool to ensure they know how to grow their wealth exponentially.
Companies can offer several types of equity compensation, including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance-based equity awards. Have a conversation with your children and ensure they are experts in the compensation types offered to them.
Stock options allow them to purchase company stock at a predetermined price. Meanwhile, RSUs are another typical type of equity compensation that provides employees with a specific number of shares of company stock at a future date.
Make sure to remind them of their taxes and tax implications. They’ve probably dealt with it slightly in the past, but taxes will now inevitably become protagonists in their careers.
Equity compensation can have significant tax implications, especially for high earners. It is important for employees to understand the tax rules associated with equity compensation to avoid any surprises come tax time. Having a meeting with your financial advisor is probably the best idea for your child. They can have a conversation that prepares them not only to negotiate but to become well-knowledged in the workforce world. Your financial advisor can also be their financial advisor, and they can slowly start working on a personalized plan of their own.
You can maximize the value of equity compensation by developing a long-term strategy. One strategy is to hold onto company stock for the long term, allowing it to appreciate in value. Another strategy is diversifying their portfolio by selling some of their company stock and investing in other assets. These options should all be available for your children.
Your child’s biggest asset in this situation is you, an example they can look up to and trust. Remind them that negotiating high-earner pays requires a combination of research, preparation, and effective communication skills. By understanding market value, the company’s needs, and its own strengths and weaknesses, it is possible to craft a negotiation strategy that maximizes its chances of securing a fair compensation package. With these tips in mind, your child can confidently negotiate a high-earner pay and take their career to the next level.
When it comes to important advice for your adult children, financial education should always be top of mind. After graduating from college, they’ve already met important milestones, ones you will never forget. However, it’s time to teach them how to become financially independent, which is no easy task. Your child can also become a high-earner at an early age, and it starts with negotiation.
Having children is one of the most fulfilling experiences of our lives, it’s a milestone. We live for those who call us “mom” or “dad,” and we revolve around the memories they get to create and the futures they’ll build. We see them graduate and they’re one step closer to becoming independent adults.
By this time, we begin to dream of seeing them graduate from the best universities in the country, ready to pursue their dreams and become professionals, adults. And even though our love for them is endless, and we will forever support our children, they are Americans’ toughest financial burden.
After 22+ years of standing beside your children and holding their hands as they accomplish and aim for their biggest dreams, they are almost ready to fly on their own. The missing piece? A guideline on how to achieve financial freedom as a young adult. Help your soon-to-be financially independent children learn all about their personal finances and, most importantly, how to negotiate high-earner salaries once they begin their professional journeys.
Negotiating high-earner pay can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking the right approach and mindset, you can teach your children how to secure a better compensation package effectively and confidently.
Rather than writing an article for you, this is an article for you to discuss with your children or even send it for them to read and act upon. You are their best example, but what they do from now on to reach their goals is up to them.
This is probably not new to you, you’ve already been here, and the best way to teach is by example. The first lesson for young adults is to remind them of their worth in the job market. Many recent graduates don’t take the time to think about their equity compensation at the start of their careers. For one, they know the experience is the most valuable outcome. They’re also likely aware that they will not start at the top but rather build their career up. And finally, they’ll always know they can count on your support along the way.
The important thing is, the sooner they understand their value, the sooner they become independent. Depending on the industry they’re entering, there are different points of reference to help determine their market value by comparing skills, experience, and qualifications to those of other professionals in similar roles.
PayScale.com is a popular website for salary research. PayScale offers a free salary report tool that enables you to input your job title, location, years of experience, and other relevant information to get a personalized salary report. In addition, the report provides information on your children’s market value, including base salary, bonuses, and benefits.
Glassdoor.com is another website for salary research. This website offers a calculator that provides a salary range for different positions, based on data from thousands of job listings and anonymous salary reports. The calculator also provides information on company ratings, reviews, and interview questions for various companies.
It’s crucial to note that these websites are only a starting point for research. While they can provide valuable information on salary ranges, they may not be wholly accurate or up-to-date. It’s important to consider other factors, such as the company’s size, location, and industry when negotiating a salary.
Your children have additional resources offered by a modern and interconnected world. It’s also important to remind them of traditional networking methods and talk to others in their industry of interest to better understand what is considered fair compensation. Contact colleagues, attend industry events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn to expand your network and gain valuable insights. The resources are almost infinite when they are maximized.
To effectively negotiate a salary, and start in-house, it’s important to understand the company’s needs and what they are looking for in an employee. This will help tailor the negotiation strategy to their specific requirements.
Critical questions to position your value:
How can you contribute to the company’s success?
How are your skills highlighted in this role, and how do they help achieve the company’s goals?
Why are you a good investment for this company? And how is your requested compensation justified?
Confidence is essential when negotiating your salary. The biggest advice for your children in this chapter of their lives is “believe in yourself and your abilities, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you deserve.”
Besides the general mistakes, knowledge is what will distinguish your child the most in their entry-level position. Awareness is key, and knowing about different types of equity compensation is another important tool to ensure they know how to grow their wealth exponentially.
Companies can offer several types of equity compensation, including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance-based equity awards. Have a conversation with your children and ensure they are experts in the compensation types offered to them.
Stock options allow them to purchase company stock at a predetermined price. Meanwhile, RSUs are another typical type of equity compensation that provides employees with a specific number of shares of company stock at a future date.
Make sure to remind them of their taxes and tax implications. They’ve probably dealt with it slightly in the past, but taxes will now inevitably become protagonists in their careers.
Equity compensation can have significant tax implications, especially for high earners. It is important for employees to understand the tax rules associated with equity compensation to avoid any surprises come tax time. Having a meeting with your financial advisor is probably the best idea for your child. They can have a conversation that prepares them not only to negotiate but to become well-knowledged in the workforce world. Your financial advisor can also be their financial advisor, and they can slowly start working on a personalized plan of their own.
You can maximize the value of equity compensation by developing a long-term strategy. One strategy is to hold onto company stock for the long term, allowing it to appreciate in value. Another strategy is diversifying their portfolio by selling some of their company stock and investing in other assets. These options should all be available for your children.
Your child’s biggest asset in this situation is you, an example they can look up to and trust. Remind them that negotiating high-earner pays requires a combination of research, preparation, and effective communication skills. By understanding market value, the company’s needs, and its own strengths and weaknesses, it is possible to craft a negotiation strategy that maximizes its chances of securing a fair compensation package. With these tips in mind, your child can confidently negotiate a high-earner pay and take their career to the next level.
Disclosures: Zoe Financial, Inc. ("Zoe Financial") is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Zoe Financial provides investment advisory services and access to independent registered investment advisers through its platform. The information provided by Zoe Financial is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or as an offer to buy or sell any security. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Clients should consult with their own financial, tax, or legal professionals before making any investment decisions. The material presented by Zoe Financial is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for personalized investment advice or as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. Material presented has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, however Adviser cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information, and certain information presented here may have been condensed or summarized from its original source. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Zoe Financial does not provide legal or tax advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as legal or tax advice. SEC Registration does not constitute an endorsement of Zoe Financial by the SEC nor does it indicate that Zoe Financial has attained a particular level of skill or ability. The sole purpose of this material is to inform, and it in no way is intended to be an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any security, other investment or service, or to attract any funds or deposits. Investments mentioned may not be appropriate for all clients. Before making any investment, each investor should carefully consider the risks associated with the investment, as discussed in the applicable offering memorandum, and make a determination based upon their own particular circumstances, that the investment is consistent with their investment objectives and risk tolerance. Lower expenses do not guarantee better investment performance. Certain information contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events, results or the performance of a fund may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements.
Disclosure: This page is not investment advice and should not be relied on for such advice or as a substitute for consultation with professional accounting, tax, legal or financial advisors. The observations of industry trends should not be read as recommendations for stocks or sectors.
Investment advisory services are provided by Zoe Financial, Inc. (Zoe Financial), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Learn more about Zoe Financial on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Brokerage services are provided by Zoe Securities LLC and Apex Clearing Corporation, members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Learn more about Zoe Securities and Apex on FINRA’s BrokerCheck website.
The information in the visuals above is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual user's account, balance, or return. Zoe Financial does not provide tax or legal advice.
Explore the Zoe Wealth Platform with AI
Some of this content may have been generated with the assistance of AI. Please review and sense-check all outputs, as AI tools can occasionally produce incomplete or inaccurate information.
In certain situations, you may be required to disclose that the content was “generated by AI.” Please confirm any specific disclosure or labelling requirements with Compliance.
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support@zoefin.com
666 Third Ave, 6th Floor
New York, NY, 10017
Copyright © 2026 Zoe Financial, Inc. | All rights reserved
Find an Advisor
Retirement Planning
Disclosure: This page is not investment advice and should not be relied on for such advice or as a substitute for consultation with professional accounting, tax, legal or financial advisors. The observations of industry trends should not be read as recommendations for stocks or sectors.
Investment advisory services are provided by Zoe Financial, Inc. (Zoe Financial), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Learn more about Zoe Financial on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Brokerage services are provided by Zoe Securities LLC and Apex Clearing Corporation, members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Learn more about Zoe Securities and Apex on FINRA’s BrokerCheck website.
The information in the visuals above is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual user's account, balance, or return. Zoe Financial does not provide tax or legal advice.
Explore the Zoe Wealth Platform with AI
Some of this content may have been generated with the assistance of AI. Please review and sense-check all outputs, as AI tools can occasionally produce incomplete or inaccurate information.
In certain situations, you may be required to disclose that the content was “generated by AI.” Please confirm any specific disclosure or labelling requirements with Compliance.
(646) 680-9244
support@zoefin.com
666 Third Ave, 6th Floor
New York, NY, 10017
Copyright © 2026 Zoe Financial, Inc. | All rights reserved
Find an Advisor
Retirement Planning
Disclosure: This page is not investment advice and should not be relied on for such advice or as a substitute for consultation with professional accounting, tax, legal or financial advisors. The observations of industry trends should not be read as recommendations for stocks or sectors.
Investment advisory services are provided by Zoe Financial, Inc. (Zoe Financial), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Learn more about Zoe Financial on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Brokerage services are provided by Zoe Securities LLC and Apex Clearing Corporation, members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Learn more about Zoe Securities and Apex on FINRA’s BrokerCheck website.
The information in the visuals above is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual user's account, balance, or return. Zoe Financial does not provide tax or legal advice.
Explore the Zoe Wealth Platform with AI
Some of this content may have been generated with the assistance of AI. Please review and sense-check all outputs, as AI tools can occasionally produce incomplete or inaccurate information.
In certain situations, you may be required to disclose that the content was “generated by AI.” Please confirm any specific disclosure or labelling requirements with Compliance.
(646) 680-9244
support@zoefin.com
666 Third Ave, 6th Floor
New York, NY, 10017
Copyright © 2025 Zoe Financial, Inc. | All rights reserved
