I'm a dad of 6 and CEO of a financial app for families. Here's what I wish parents were teaching their kids about money.

• Gregg Murset is a dad of six and the cofounder of Busy Kid, a financial app for families.

• He says parents need to teach their kids the value of work and how to manage money.

• This is Murset's story, as told to Kelly Burch.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gregg Murset. It has been edited for length and clarity.

As a parent of six nearly grown children, I can tell you that parenting boils down to one essential goal: help your kids become productive people, so they can leave your house. That hinges on two fundamentals: teaching kids how to work and how to manage their money.

Of course, that comes after teaching moral essentials like kindness. By focusing on financial responsibility, you can orchestrate a successful launch for your kids rather than a failure to launch.

I should know — four of my six kids have successfully flown the nest. I'm also a certified financial planner and the cofounder of Busy Kid, a chore app that teaches families how to manage money. As a dad and financial professional, here's what I wish more parents knew.

It's OK to be motivated by money

We live in a capitalist society. As adults, we're motivated by money — most of us wouldn't show up for our jobs if we weren't being paid. Yet many parents want their kids to do chores without external motivation. I say, put the money on the table and let that motivate your kids, rather than you nagging them.

To be productive adults, kids are going to have to learn work ethics. Chores are a natural starting point. If you're opposed to paying for all chores, set some base expectations like feeding the pets or taking out the trash. Pay for chores above and beyond that.

Teach money management

Kids love money, but they want to earn it and burn it. That's why we need to teach money management or allocation. I believe in a three-part system, with savings, sharing, and spending categories. That way kids can have fun, while still learning about giving and saving.

Here's the key: That money they are earning needs to mean something. So don't reach into your pocket every time your kid or teen asks for $20. It's easy to spend other people's money. But when kids have to spend their own funds, that's where the learning happens.

You don't have to be perfect

Most parents are intimidated by teaching finances because they feel like they don't know what they're doing. Don't let that stop you. Instead, incorporate your children into financial discussions.

The car is a great place to start since we spend so much time driving kids around. Instead of just grumbling about the price at the pump, talk to your children about what inflation is. Share how much your car payment is, and how you have to pay it each and every month. When you go out to eat, have your child calculate the tip.

These basic situations are perfect teaching opportunities. Over time, they'll help your kids think differently about money.

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