Social media has given rise to a new breed of influencer who’s focused on all things money. Dubbed “finfluencers,” they use platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to share personal finance tips and hacks. While some of these personal finance influencers gear their content toward adults, others are helping kids learn about money one bite-sized piece of content at a time.
Key Takeaways
- Personal finance influencers use platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram to share money tips and hacks.
- A number of personal finance influencers gear their content to appeal to kids and teens who may be curious about money and how it works.
- When finding personal finance influencers for kids to follow, it’s important to know the red flags to watch out for.
- Setting parental controls can help to filter out content on social media platforms that may be inappropriate for kids.
Top Personal Finance Influencers Kids Follow
Personal finance influencers are people who use their following on social media to educate others about money. While some finfluencers are finance professionals, others may be ordinary people who’ve learned about money the hard way, through trial and error, then share that knowledge with others. Here are some of the top influencers who offer content for kids, tweens, and teens.
Spencer Hochhaus @spencerhochhaus
- Follow on – TikTok, YouTube
- Tips on – Making money, saving money, finance basics
Spencer Hochhaus is a personal finance expert who’s amassed a following of nearly 500,000 on TikTok. He shares videos on teen finance topics, including how to make money as a teenager, tips for saving money, and how to start building credit as a teen.
Taylor Price @pricelesstay
- Follow on – TikTok, Instagram
- Tips on – Side hustles, saving, financial freedom
Taylor Price is a young twentysomething with a TikTok following that’s over one million strong. She creates content that’s all about financial empowerment for teens and twentysomethings who want to get ahead while living life without debt.
Callum Carver @callumcarver
- Follow on – TikTok, YouTube
- Tips on – Side hustles, building wealth, making money
Callum Carver is a finance TikToker who calls himself “The MoneyMan.” This influencer breaks down topics such as how to start investing as a teen, ways teens can make money, and how to get on the path to building wealth from a young age.
Kids need to be at least 13 years old to set up a TikTok account, an Instagram account, or a YouTube account of their own.
Sonny Fazio @realtalkstocks
Fazio is a TikTok influencer who shares content for teens and college students who are interested in learning how to invest in cryptocurrency. Teens can also get tips on how to start side businesses and make money to save and invest.
With younger generations factoring cryptocurrency into their retirement plans (according to the 2022 Investopedia Financial Literacy Survey), understanding cryptocurrency may be extremely important for children.
Sara Finance @sarafinance
- Follow on – TikTok, YouTube
- Tips on – Side hustles, investing
Sara Finance is a Canadian TikToker and YouTuber who offers tips on side hustles, earning extra income, and investing. She breaks down how she makes nearly $100,000 a month as a twentysomething by developing multiple streams of income.
Personal finance influencers must disclose affiliate relationships and/or sponsored content to their followers.
Queenie Tan @investwithqueenie
- Follow on – TikTok, Instagram
- Tips on – Achieving financial independence
Queenie Tan is a 25-year-old from Australia who’s on a mission to become financially independent and teach other young people how to do the same. Much of her content is focused on different ways to save money, though she also talks about how to get started with investing.
Vivian Tu @yourrichbff
- Follow on – TikTok, Instagram, YouTube
- Tips on – Saving, investing, freebies
Vivian Tu has a background as a Wall Street trader, and she leverages that knowledge to share her best advice on saving and investing for young people. She also shares plenty of money hacks to help young people maximize their savings and make extra cash on the side.
Setting up parental controls on social media can help you to filter out content that may be inappropriate for your kids or teens.
How to Spot a Finfluencer Fraud
While there are plenty of finfluencers who offer legitimate advice, parents should be on the lookout for money fakes and scammers. Here are some of the red flags that might suggest an influencer isn’t what they appear to be:
- Little interaction. A large following can suggest that a finfluencer is legit, but you should consider how much interaction that person’s content is getting. If they have lots of posts but hardly any views or comments, it could suggest that their follower base is largely composed of bots rather than real people.
- Promises that are too good to be true. Personal finance influencers may use buzz words in their content to get views and attract followers. Be wary of finfluencers who frequently use terms such as “zero-risk,” “guaranteed return,” “get rich quick,” or “make money in your sleep,” as these may simply be clickbait to help drive traffic.
- A lack of proof. A reputable finfluencer should be willing to back up their claims with proof. For example, if a twentysomething TikToker claims to have already saved $1 million for retirement, they should be able to show evidence of how they did it. If not, it may be best to advise kids to take their tips with a grain of salt.
- The hard sell. Becoming a personal finance influencer can be a great way to make money if you’re able to earn from ad revenue, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or selling your own products. However, an influencer who’s always in selling mode or frequently seems to push certain products may have ulterior motives other than helping kids and teens learn about money.
What Is a Personal Finance Influencer?
A personal finance influencer is someone who shares money tips and advice through social media platforms. These influencers may be active on such platforms as TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram and use their finance-related content to build a following.
How Do You Become a Personal Finance Influencer?
Cultivating a following on one or more social media sites is key to becoming a personal finance influencer. You don’t necessarily need a professional background in finance, but you do need to be able to create content that’s engaging and shareable in order to attract an audience.
Is It Legal to Give Financial Advice on Social Media?
It’s not illegal to give financial advice on social media, but there are some legal requirements that finfluencers must meet. Specifically, personal finance influencers are required to disclose affiliate relationships or sponsored content, so that their followers are aware that they may receive compensation for recommending certain products or services.
The Bottom Line
TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram are helping kids become financially savvy at an early age, which can set them up for financial success as adults. Parents and kids who are interested in money—teenagers, tweens, or younger children—may find that watching finfluencer content together can be a great way to get a conversation about money flowing. Who knows? The next Gen Z finfluencer could be growing up in your very own family. Just remember that, before dropping a like or follow, it’s important to do a little background research on a personal finance influencer to make sure they’re legit.