Do dads give the best advice?

• One in three (32%) men consider becoming a father an important milestone in life
• On average, men become dads at 28 years old, but this could be set to rise to 36 years old
• Research cites some of the best advice father figures have given

This weekend it’s Father’s Day, and many men will be celebrating being a dad or becoming a dad for the first time. One in three (32%) men consider having their first child as one of the most important milestones in their lives, according to research by Evelyn Partners, formerly known as Tilney Smith & Williamson. ¹

The new research also shows men had their first child at 28 years old on average. However, as financial pressures and the cost of living take their toll, parenthood could be delayed as on average, UK men over 18 expect to become a father for the first time at 36 years old.

Fatherly advice

Many new dads might take the time this Father’s Day to consider what advice they will pass on to their children (and if their children will listen!), while others will be recalling the advice their dads or grandads have shared with them over the years.

Evelyn Partners’ survey asked people to share the best piece of advice that they have received, and dads or father figures often were regarded as sharing some of the best advice. In fact, one survey respondent said, ‘their dad always gives them the best advice’, while another said, ‘they can’t remember the best piece of advice, but they’re certain their dad gave it to them’.

Here are some of the best pieces of advice that dads and grandfathers passed on to the participants taking part in Evelyn Partners’ survey²:

Pearls of wisdom

“Live your life to the full and never look back, you’ll only get a crick your neck”.

“You cannot cherry pick what you want in life by looking at what others have and getting jealous”.

“Always go down a hill in the same gear as you go up”.

“You may not like a situation, but you can learn to live with it.” 

“Think what you like, but don't say it.”
 

“Never expect anything and you will never be disappointed.”

'Most fears do not happen.”

Sometimes it’s the simple advice that can be applied to every situation that proves the most valuable. For instance, one grandad said, “H is for happy and that’s all we need to be”, while another stressed the importance of living life to the full, “You only go round once, make it a good one”.

Money matters

“My grandfather showed me how to budget properly so that I could afford a mortgage and buy my first house. Still to this day the most helpful advice I’ve ever received!”
 

“Buy a house – there is always money in bricks and mortar”

“Live within your means and always pay bills before spending money on treats.”


“'Park financial losses that you can't control, rather than obsess about them”

“Everyone in the world is out for one thing - to get your money out of your pockets and into their own pockets.”

Sometimes you can’t appreciate good advice in the moment, and you regret it later on. One participant said their dad told them to start a pension as soon as they could, but he didn’t take this advice and said that this was one of his biggest regrets in life.

Relationships

“My father-in-law told me to never go to sleep on an argument. It’s something that he was taught by his father.”

"Everyone else's opinions and beliefs are just as important to them as mine. Be respectful!”

 
“Don’t listen to other peoples’ opinions Always make your own mind up about other people.”

 
“Be kind and always treat others how you would like to be treated.”

Work hard, play hard

“Find something that makes you happy and find a way of getting paid for it.”

“Being happy in your job is far more important than having a large salary.”

 
“It’s more important to find your work interesting than earning lots of money.”

 
“Learn your trade well and always have pride in your work.”

 
“You will have to work hard for everything you get, so don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves.”

Finally, one grandfather stressed the importance of having a good work ethic and always giving 100% when he said: “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right so don’t cut corners.”

Jason Hollands, Managing Director at Evelyn Partners, commented: “They may embarrass us on the dance floor, but our research confirms that father figures are often sources of great advice, whether that be financial, relationship advice or just general tips to help make life easier. Father’s Day is a great opportunity to ask or share advice that could be remembered and valued for years’ to come.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

¹ Nationally representative research of 2,000 UK adults conducted by Opinium via an online survey between 30/05/2022 to 06/06/2022.

²Nationally representative research of 2,002 UK adults conducted by Opinium via an online survey between 12/05/2022 to 16/05/2022.