ClearCash lets parents monitor a teenager’s bank account and spending without taking control of it. Both parent and teen can see the same financial picture, which creates natural opportunities to discuss money and build healthy financial habits.
Before you start
To connect a teenager’s bank account via Plaid, you need to be an authorized user or joint account holder at the teen’s bank. This is a requirement from Plaid and the bank — not a ClearCash restriction.
If you are not currently on the account, check with your bank about adding yourself as a joint holder or authorized user before proceeding.
Setting it up
1. Create a group
Open the Groups tab and tap Create Group. Give it a name that makes sense to both of you, like “Jason’s Finances” or “Family — Jason”. You become the group Owner.
2. Connect the teen’s bank account
From your own ClearCash account, connect the teen’s bank account using Plaid. Because you are an authorized user or joint holder, you can authenticate the connection on their behalf.
3. Share the account with the group
From the group settings, share the teen’s connected account. This makes the account’s transactions and balance visible to all group members.
Set the split percentages to teen 100% / parent 0%. This ensures the account contributes to the teen’s net worth, not the parent’s. Since the purpose of this group is oversight rather than shared financial responsibility, the parent’s net worth should be unaffected.
A 0% split means the account appears in the group for visibility but has no effect on the parent’s net worth calculation.
4. Invite the teen
This step is optional. If you only want to monitor spending yourself, you can skip it — the teen does not need a ClearCash account for you to have visibility.
If you want the teen to see their own data, add them as a Member using their email address. They receive an invitation and can sign in with their own ClearCash account to see their spending, transactions, and net worth.
If the teen does not have an email address yet, you can add them as a placeholder member and convert them to a full invited member later.
Roles in this setup
| Person | Recommended role | What they can do |
|---|---|---|
| Parent | Owner | Manage group settings, connect and share accounts, add or remove members |
| Teen | Member | View shared accounts and transactions, manage their own sharing settings |
Members cannot change group settings, adjust split percentages, or invite other members. They see what has been explicitly shared with the group.
What the teen sees
Once they accept the invitation:
- Their own account transactions and balance
- Any other accounts you chose to share into the group
- Spending trends and net worth based on the shared data
The teen does not see the parent’s personal accounts or anything outside the group.
What to read next
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect the account if I am not on it?
No. Plaid requires valid credentials for someone authorized on the account. If you are not currently an authorized user, you will need to add yourself at the bank level first.
Can my teen see my personal accounts?
No. Group members only see accounts that have been explicitly shared into the group. Your personal accounts remain private unless you choose to share them.
What role should I give my teen?
Member is the right role for most setups. It gives them full visibility into the shared data without the ability to change the group structure or invite other people.
Can I set this up without involving the teen yet?
Yes. Create the group, connect the account, and monitor on your own. You can invite the teen as a member later when they are ready to be more involved.
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