Our kids are college graduates, but we're paying their rent. We understand what they're up against.

The author (second from left) said she and her husband are paying rent for their 20-something kids to help give them a strong foundation for their futures.

Courtesy of Cherith Glover Fluker.

My children are college graduates.

I'm still paying their rent, and I'm OK with that.

A college degree may be an important step toward financial stability, but it takes time to accumulate and transfer wealth.

We cover rent, but the help comes with conversations, actionable planning, and an end date.

When our youngest child graduated from college, my husband and I were overwhelmed with pride.

There we were, two first-generation college graduates who had somehow managed to get both of our children through college.

But right next to that pride was another emotion: fear.

We weren't afraid that they wouldn't be successful; we've always believed in them.

Our fear stemmed from knowing that a college degree doesn't always translate into financial stability.

That's especially true for some Black graduates entering a financial system that hasn't historically given Black families the same opportunities to build and pass down wealth.

So, while I proudly watched my kids cross the stage to receive their diplomas, I was already thinking about what would come next.

For us, that means continuing to pay their rent while they get their footing.