Is Gen Z financially literate?
Notably, a collaborative study by the TIAA Institute and the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center (GFLEC) has found that only 43% of Gen Z respondents correctly answered questions related to financial literacy, indicating a significant gap in financial understanding within this demographic.
According to the US National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), Gen Z has the lowest level of financial literacy, with only 28% of questions being answered correctly on average.
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.
A new survey of 2,000 Gen Zers from the writing platform EduBirdie reveals that while work-life balance and enjoyment are important goals, cash remains king. A full 31% of respondents said their main career aim is to make lots of money.
Gen Z in particular seems behind the curve in this area, while boomers show the highest level of financial literacy. However, these trends may be changing, as financial literacy education seems to be increasing its reach among Gen Zers and future generations to come.
It's not just about paying bills on time; it's about knowing where your money's going, how to save for that dream vacay or start-up, and making choices that set you up for a win down the road. So, fellow Gen Z'ers, let's take charge of our dough, one buck at a time.
Gen Z faces unique financial challenges compared to older generations. College graduates earn 10% less compared to their parents, recent research found. High inflation — and affordability concerns among Gen Zers — extend beyond U.S. borders.
Millennials Got Cheaper Mortgages Than Their Parents
“As Gen Z looks to buy their starter homes in the next few years, they will face both high rates and high prices. It may be years before the housing market is affordable again,” Allison explains.
Gen Z Struggles With Mental Health
Social media, which many Gen Zers have used for most of their teenage and adult life, exacerbates these issues — no other generation has had such immediate and unfiltered access to the news for most of their lives, which can lead to stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
The third generation, also known as the squanderer, is often the downfall of wealthy families. They are born into wealth and have never experienced the struggle that their ancestors faced in creating it. As a result, they may lack the work ethic and financial responsibility necessary to preserve the family's wealth.
Which generation has the least wealth?
Younger Americans (millennials and Gen Zers, or those born in 1981 or later) had greater family wealth, on average, than Gen Xers (born between 1965 and 1980) and baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) did when both generations were close to the same average age (33-34).
The issue of generational wealth transfer is not a new one, nor is it uniquely American. Sixty% of wealth transfers are lost by the second generation, and 90% by the third. Only 10% of wealth passes beyond the third generation.
Gen Z is stressed out about their finances. So, they're working to establish good money habits now. They may be young, but Gen Zers' lives have already been riddled with financial obstacles, including record high inflation and bloated education costs.
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.
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.”
Generation Z students are on track to become the most educated generation. They have higher high school graduation rates and lower dropout rates than those who came before. In 2018, 57% of 18 to 21-year olds were in college, compared with 52% of Millennials, and 43% of Gen Xers at similar ages.
Grow savings
The most popular financial goal for millennials and Gen Zers in 2024 is to grow their savings, with nearly 60% of respondents placing this at the top of their resolutions list.
Gen Z is known for being resourceful, independent learners who value diversity and inclusive culture and place a priority on well-being and mental health in the workplace. They are fiscally conservative with a keen focus on investing and income.
They Like Technology and Sustainability. Compared to other generations, Gen Z is more likely to invest in companies with positive environmental impacts or social causes they care about.
Gen Z is richer than just a few years ago—and much richer than their parents at the same age—but everything costs more and they have more debt, Pew study reveals. Gen Z is making more money than their parents at their age, but they still have to deal with higher costs of buying a home and college.
How Gen Z and millennials differ financially?
How Gen Z and Millennials Differ With Money Habits. Even though both generations value saving money, Gen Z is far ahead of millennials in terms of how much they're putting away. According to Finder's Consumer Confidence Index, Gen Z saves an average of $857 per month, while millennials save $294.
For those between 45 to 64 years old, the median income is $60,998, and for those age 65 and over, $41,013. As a whole, however, Gen Z had the lowest salaries in the country — specifically Gen Z in West Virginia, with a median income of $27,380.
The members of Generation Z, the oldest of which are now in their 20s, on average are expected to live to 100 and beyond. Health technology may or may not eventually lift Gen Zers well past that.
Compared to the 70-year life expectancy of baby boomers and the 85-year life expectancy of Gen X, Gen Z is predicted to have a life expectancy of over 100 years.
However, Gen Z has certain weaknesses. They have a rather indifferent attitude towards security and prioritize convenience over security . They also experience a low perceived behavioral control and lack education on how to behave securely online .
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