Recently, while perusing magazines at an airport book store, I saw a headline offering to show the reader how to ensure their kids grow into rich adults.  The headline was tongue in cheek and the answer was to start saving young.  This is a long shot given that Americans are notoriously bad at saving money.  The majority of Americans don’t have $1000 in emergency savings.

While Wall Street and politicians would like the American public to believe their children can all be millionaires, it’s an insular club whose membership numbers are shrinking.  To get into the top economic 0.01 percent (one-hundredth of one percent) of the (US) population, you must have a household income over $27 million per year.

Nor does wealth pave the path to happiness.  Most studies have shown that the happiest people are those who surround themselves with family and friends. What does not make people happy?  Money, material possessions, intelligence, education, age, gender or attractiveness.

“Their life experience makes them less empathetic, less altruistic, and generally more selfish,” says a recent MSNBC article on rich people.  People without the resources to go it alone have to rely on others.  This makes a more connected and considerate community.  According to the MSNBC article, the rich really are different, and not in a good way.

Instead of worrying about how to get our kids into the exclusive club of millionaires, we should focus more energy on teaching them financial literacy, critical thinking, empathy and a sense of justice.  They’re going to need it to stand up against the increasing power of banks, politicians, and corporations.