At our recent Father’s Day Social Capital Legacy Builders’ Day, we teamed up with Tristan Claridge, President of the Institute for Social Capital, to lead a powerful discussion centered on a biblical principle:
> “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”
— Proverbs 13:22
Now, I’m not a theologian—far from it. And while Tristan and I probably talk more about FTP scores and bike speeds than we do human salvation, the quote hits us hard.
Because when most people think of inheritance, they usually think of money or property, but another kind of inheritance often goes overlooked. And that’s the asset that Tristan, I and a handful of other advocates work so hard to promote:
Social Capital.
The relationships. The reputation. The connections. The trust.
The open doors we leave behind.
And that’s the heart of my article below.
Costing Your Child $175,000 to $350,000 Without Realizing It?
Most parents want the best for their child: opportunity, financial security, and a shot at a meaningful career.
But what if what you’re not doing is quietly draining their future potential by hundreds of thousands of dollars?
It’s not about saving more.
It’s not about better grades.
It’s about social capital. It’s the overlooked, untapped wealth hidden in your relationships.
What Is Social Capital Really Worth?
Social capital is more than “who you know.” It’s the introductions, the advice, the gate-openers, the referrals, the real-world guidance your child could access, but let’s be honest, they likely don’t.
Here’s the reality:
> Each valuable social capital connection can increase your child’s lifetime earnings by 7% to 14%.
Let’s break that down:
The average college graduate earns about $2.5 million over their career. A 7% to 14% boost from even one strong relationship equals $175,000 to $350,000.
The average high school graduate earns about $1.3 million over their lifetime. A 7% to 14% increase here means $91,000 to $182,000 in added lifetime income.
Let that sink in.
One relationship. One introduction. One door opened.
And that doesn’t even account for the investment potential of that extra income if accessed earlier in life.
What Does That Look Like in Real Life?
Let’s say your child wants a career in technology, one of the most competitive, well-paying fields today.
Now let’s examine your family’s Opportunity Fields.
> At Social Capital Builders, we define Opportunity Fields as the places in your life where trusted relationships already exist but haven’t yet been activated to create opportunity. These include your workplace, school affiliations, places of worship, community groups, hobbies, and extended social circles.
Take a closer look:
You work in construction, where the job site relies on tech tools and systems.
Your spouse is in healthcare, regularly working with IT departments.
Your church has members in tech or related industries.
Your college alumni group is full of tech professionals on LinkedIn.
Your cycling club, your spouse’s sorority, your kids’ coaches: all are potential access points to opportunity.
Now imagine:
Each of those contains at least one person with a tech connection.
That’s 6 to 10 warm, reachable tech contacts already in your orbit.
If even one of those leads to a career introduction, internship, or job opportunity, your child’s earnings could increase by up to $350,000 over their lifetime.
“Get my money up, Ed!”
What Happens If You Don’t Use It?
Nothing dramatic. No warning. No letter in the mail.
And that’s the danger.
Your child applies for jobs cold with no referrals.
They miss out on the hidden job market, where 80% of opportunities are filled.
They learn tough lessons after a decade, rather than during their first year out of school.
They land work but not the job that could’ve changed everything.
Just like the 50% of college graduates working in jobs that don’t require a degreen( more like 60% for African-American college grads.
That’s the quiet tax of unused social capital.
You never see the bill but your child pays for it over time.
What You Can Do Today
If you want to help your child build the foundation for a strong, opportunity-rich future, we can help.
At Social Capital Builders, our Social Capital Smart™ Parent program helps families map, activate, and grow their opportunity fields to give their children a strategic advantage in life and career.
Let’s get their money up.
Your Child’s Future Is in Your Contacts
You wouldn’t throw away $175,000 or even $91,000.
But ignoring your family’s social capital is doing just that.
And not just once.
Possibly again and again over a lifetime.
So don’t wait.
Be the bridge.
Because opportunity doesn’t just happen, it’s introduced.
Edward DeJesus is the Founder of Social Capital Builders. He can be reached at info@socialcapitalbuilders.com.