If kiddos publish in Nature… yup. So far, close (the Lancet) but not yet Nature or Science. Neither of the 'rents has a snowball’s chance in hell, because we sold our souls to the dark side. 
In our family there was no such “expectation”, but though both are still in their 20’s, each of our kids’ incomes already exceeds ours.
Being semi retired, the kids make a BOATLOAD more than I do
Jym - I bet they are also spending a boatload more than you are
Yes to the plateau level concept of post #19.
H and I are physicians who know many others with doctor level degrees. Many whose kids go on to college but not to a MD, DMD (DDS) or PhD level like a parent. Our own middle range gifted (grade skipping and top test scores et al) kid stopped at a bachelors (says CS doesn’t need more and intellectually satisfied) while know many other elite intelligence kids who pursued other fields, such as MBA’s or other masters level degrees.
With highly educated parents it is hard to outdo them. Plus with financial security and some insights into lifestyles many choose different paths. Not as driven as I was. Hoped for more for son but in a way he is better off without getting a math PhD and job hunting or living in an undesirable place. It took some getting used to the fact that son is not interested in going as far as possible academically. He does software development (engineering depending on the title given by a company) and not research as he pointed out to me. Plenty of research opportunities and some grad level courses in college for his honors math, added the CS major.
When I look back at more gifted than I friends I see where they were never as driven as I was to achieve. I also see where those with better middle income family upbringings had less concern about security (btw- we, and son, are fairly frugal).
I wonder about kids of rich businessmen who are used to luxury but not used to living on a salary they could generate. What do they do when used to high end spending habits and living in luxury? Most of the physicians I know may have the income but not the ostentatious lifestyles.
Different concepts of being successful. Financial, educational and being satisfied with one’s work.
“If kiddos publish in Nature… yup. So far, close (the Lancet) but not yet Nature or Science. Neither of the 'rents has a snowball’s chance in hell, because we sold our souls to the dark side.”
C’mon @BunsenBurner, you’ve been in biotech for too long to know that it’s possible to have both
Re: post #23, @BunsenBurner (I would copy/paste but my ipad is misbehaving) - we don’t have $$$$$$$$ rent or $$$$$$$$ mortgage payments like they do, but I think we have had our share of expenses this year (wedding, car, tax payments, etc)!
That said, like @wis75, the s’s didn’t choose do go for advanced degrees (one s was applying for an MBA program when his dream job opportunity came through) so while their spouses have masters degrees, both s’s just have BS degrees. I have the PhD and DH has a masters, but DS’s fortunately have ended up, after a job change or 2, in situations that have been fortuitous and will hopefully have them on a comfortable path. Combo of hard work and luck.
I published in Science when I was in Grad school, @BunsenBurner !
It was all downhill from there, @BunsenBurner 
Perhaps some of those businesses people themselves experience that if their company or industry declines and they have to make do on $150,000 instead of $200,000 (or any other decline in income).
Jym - bummer for your kiddos. JK. Hard to get Nature to give you a nod when all you do is make small molecules. And it is now hopeless for me (but one of the molecules I made is in Phase 2). Mr. had a chance of a fancy pub recently, but his boss said they would not want to disclose as many details as the journal wanted… 
What, no legacy tip? What about legacy for Single Choice Early Review? 
I do not expect my daughters to be more financially successful than me or their dad, but if they are, that will be great. I think my parents and my ex-husband’s parents probably reached the peak of financial success for their respective families: they raised families of six (husband, wife, four children) on one income, and those jobs came with lifelong pension and health-care benefits for both spouses.
I don’t consider my ex’s family to be particularly successful in other ways, e.g., measured by their relationships. My family, in contrast, is close and supportive. I think my daughters and my siblings’ children are relatively close and supportive, too.
Our S was published in a geology and one or more EE articles from volunteer & paid research did in college. None since. He’s not in an academic setting. We have urged him to get a grad degree but he has no interest and we respect his choice. I have a professional degree—H has none but never missed it.
S’s savings are about 6x what mine were when I was his age in the mid-1980s. His salary is about double or more than what I earned with my professional degree and many times what H earned at his age. He’s traveled more than both of us combined already.
One of my sons is very driven, doesn’t like to part with a buck, and already makes and saves a fair amount of money at 22. My guess is he will do well, will probably return to get an MBA or other advanced degree. My other son, who did amazingly well in HS, and many would have guessed would get an advanced degree in a STEM field, seems to have burned out a little, and is not launching as well as I expected. He’s very frugal though, and doesn’t need much to be happy. I was the first in my family to get a degree right after HS, and only one of my mom’s generation (8 siblings) ever got a degree. I hope my kids wind up healthy and happy, and can support themselves “well enough” at least. If they maintain status quou that would be fine with me.
D1 is already doing much better than me financially at her age and she also has a husband who is also doing well, so with their combined income they are doing better than me.
I assume D2 will do fine if she should go work at a big law when she graduates.
Yes, my father expected us to do better than him and I would expect my kids to do better than me, both emotionally and financially.
Everyone has their own definition of what is “doing better.” I think every parent wants their kids to do better than them. I had challenging relationships with my parents, so I wanted my kids to have better relationship with me. It was difficult for me to integrate with American life, so I wanted my kids to be part of it. I worked hard for my financial security, therefore I would like my kids to have an easier time with it. I do not think it is as much of expectation as it is a hope.