Father’s Day rolls around every June like clockwork — right alongside grilling accidents, questionable neckties and the annual reminder that dads everywhere are still using the same wallet they got in 2007. You know the one: duct-taped, overstuffed and somehow holding receipts from a gas station that no longer exists.
Beneath the dad jokes and barbecue smoke lies a sneaky little financial truth: dads are often the unsung chief financial officer of the household. They’re not always flashy and rarely celebrated for it but quietly making decisions that keep the lights on, the mortgage paid and the family from accidentally subscribing to 14 streaming services at once. (Looking at you, “free trial.”)
Let’s be honest. Father’s Day spending for the June 21 holiday is a bit of a paradox. Americans shell out billions each year on gifts, most of which fall into three categories: grilling tools, gadgets he didn’t ask for and shirts that are just aggressive enough to be considered “personality.”
Meanwhile, many dads would be perfectly content with a nap, a decent steak and not having to assemble anything with “minimal instructions” for 24 hours.
Financially speaking, this is where things get interesting. The real “dad move” isn’t splurging. It’s value. Dads are the original return on investment analysts. They’re the ones standing in the hardware store debating whether a $12 tool will last longer than the $9.99 one. They’re also the ones reminding everyone to turn off lights like the electric bill is personally offended.
Yet despite their practical nature, many dads are notoriously behind on one major financial area: their own planning.
It’s a classic case of “everyone else first.” College funds? Check. Emergency savings? Probably. Life insurance? Hopefully. But ask about retirement projections or estate planning, and suddenly there’s a lot of throat clearing, and “I’ll get to it.”
Here’s the reality—being a great dad isn’t just about providing today. It’s about making sure the future isn’t a financial scavenger hunt for your family. Translation: if your important documents are scattered across a filing cabinet, a junk drawer and “somewhere in the garage,” it might be time for a system.
Let’s talk about the ultimate dad flex: financial confidence. Not the flashy, “I just bought a boat” kind (although, sure, live your life), but the quiet kind. The kind that comes from knowing you’ve got a plan, your risks are covered, and your family won’t be left guessing if something unexpected happens.
So this Father’s Day, maybe skip the fifth spatula set. Instead, consider giving — or encouraging — something a little more meaningful. A conversation about goals. A check-in on retirement. Even just organizing the chaos into something resembling a plan.
It’s not exactly gift-wrapped, but it lasts longer than a novelty mug that says “World’s Okayest Dad.”
Of course, don’t overthink it. Dads still want the steak. They still want the nap. And deep down, they probably still think they can fix anything with the right tool and a little patience.
If all else fails, just remember: nothing says “I appreciate you” quite like not asking him to fix something on his day off. That alone might be worth more than anything money can buy.
Michelle Kuehner, a Chartered Financial Consultant and Master Certified Estate Planner, is the president of Personal Money Planning LLC, a Wichita Falls retirement planning and investment management firm.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Grills, bills and dad skills: The Real Father’s Day Playbook | Opinion
Reporting by Michelle Kuehner, San Angelo Standard-Times / San Angelo Standard-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Michelle Kuehner, San Angelo Standard-Times | USA TODAY Network
