How Gen Z feels about money?
Roughly three-quarters of Gen Z Americans said today's economy makes them hesitant to set up long-term financial goals and two-thirds said they might never have enough money to retire, another recent Prosperity Index study by Intuit found.
A Deloitte survey this year found that over half of Gen Z and millennials were living paycheck-to-paycheck with both generations ranking finances as their top concern. The survey also found that Gen Z and millennials largely believe that goals like home ownership and starting a family were out of reach or impossible.
Gen Z'ers, the youngest of young adults, are the most likely to be at least partially financially dependent on their parents — 16 percent said they are completely financially independent. Meanwhile, 44 percent of young adults aged 25 to 29 told Pew they are completely financially independent of their parents.
A Forbes Advisor survey of more than 1,000 millennials and Gen Zers in January 2023 pointed to these top five topics: investing in stocks and bonds (57%), personal budgeting (51%), passive income (49%), reducing debt (40%) and building or improving credit (37%).
- 53% of US Gen Zers want brands they shop at to support mental health, more than any other cause, according to a survey from ICSC and Big Village. ...
- Gen Z also wants brands to support LGBTQ+ rights (like same-sex marriage) and political activism, per ICSC and Big Village.
According to recent data from a 2023 Pew Research Centre survey, Gen Z is more financially independent at a younger age than prior generations. While still in school, a sizeable proportion of Gen Zers work part-time, freelance, or have side hustles.
For example, a new study by the Investment Company Institute (ICI) finds that “Gen Z households have nearly three times more assets in the [retirement] plan accounts (adjusted for inflation) that Gen X households did at the same age.” More Gen Z-ers have retirement plans set up and they've saved more in those accounts.
“My studies have shown that being happy and fulfilled, and making enough to live comfortably top the most important features in Gen Z's ideal careers – not being rich and travelling the world.” So, it's not necessarily that Gen Z are greedy or money-grabbing; the majority, say experts, just want to cover their costs.
Additionally, 53% of Gen Zers say higher costs are a barrier to their financial success, a separate survey from Bank of America found. And 73% of Gen Z respondents said today's economy makes them hesitant to set up long-term financial goals, according to a recent Prosperity Index study by Intuit.
Through a compilation of Gen Z interviews and studies from Bain & Co, CFA Institute, EY, and others, the article concludes that the youngest generation in the workforce is motivated by competitive compensation and quick career growth, and is quick to move on to other opportunities if they don't get that.
Why is Gen Z struggling financially?
Gen-Z feels substantial anxiety and stress about jobs, long-term financial stability and major life steps, such as buying a home and starting a family. The current economy and job market are primary sources of uncertainty for this generation, according to EY's 2023 Gen-Z Segmentation Study.
Older millennials, aged 35 to 44, are the least likely to say they feel “financially well,” according to Bank of America's 2023 Workplace Benefits Report, which surveyed more than 1,300 employees and 800 employers across the country. A full 80% report feeling stressed out by their financial situations.
Z sees money as a way to make life more enjoyable. They are more likely than any other generation to use their money to buy experiences rather than things. This may be because Gen Z grew up during the Great Recession, which taught them that material possessions could be taken away at any time.
Compared with older generations today, members of Gen Z are much more likely to report experiencing negative emotions such as stress, anxiety and loneliness, according to a new study.
Gen Zers are having a harder time making ends meet, let alone building wealth. Roughly 38% of Generation Z adults and millennials believe they face more difficulty feeling financially secure than their parents did at the same age, largely due to the economy, according to a recent Bankrate report.
Gen Z's standout priorities for 2024 are centered around self-enrichment: things like starting new jobs, learning new skills, reading more, or finding love.
Many Gen Z and millennials grew up watching their parents lose large parts of their net worth to stock market crashes and home equities drying up, Bryan-Podvin said, and this increases the fear of financial instability.
Intuit's most recent Prosperity Index Study explains how Gen Z is leading the wave with this “softer” approach to life and finances. According to the study, 3 out of 4 Gen Zers say they'd rather have a better quality of life than extra money in the bank.
Previous studies have revealed that Gen Zs are less materialistic and hedonic-oriented than previous generations (Bulut et al., 2017) and are highly environmentally and socially conscious (Chaturvedi et al., 2020; Grénman, Räikkönen, et al., 2023).
Gen Z's Philanthropic Potential
The good news, however, is that this limitation doesn't deter them from contributing to causes they care about however they can. “[I]n 2022, Gen Z adults made an average of 5.3 donations — notably more than the 4.8 made by millennials and 4.7 made by Generation X.”
How does Gen Z feel about banks?
Gen Z attitudes toward money and finances are sometimes aligned with and sometimes starkly different from those of older generations. Research suggests that Gen Z trusts traditional banks more to secure their data and needs digital services to be exceptional to retain their customers.
Gen Zers have shown they are thinking ahead when it comes to managing money. They are budgeting, saving, and planning for their financial futures. These habits, combined with increasing income over time, lay a strong foundation for growing wealth. Gen Z's approach to earning money goes beyond traditional jobs.
By the numbers: Gen Z-ers surveyed said their top career goals were businessperson, doctor and engineer. Artist took the fourth spot.
Purpose: Gen Z is often motivated by a sense of purpose and may be drawn to jobs and companies that align with their values and beliefs. As a manager, you can help motivate your Gen Z employees by ensuring their work is meaningful and positively impacts others.
Gen Z is more stressed than any other generation about their savings accounts, a BI survey shows. Nearly half of Gen Z adults worry about their daily spending. One Gen Z grad student says she loses sleep over her financial responsibilities.
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