Is Gen Z investing?
As the first generation of digital natives, Gen Z's investing habits will significantly impact the economy as the population grows. Gen Z tends to engage in risky behavior less than previous generations—opting for stability and historically-sound investment rather than volatility.
Key findings. Stock ownership and retirement accounts: 37% of Gen Z and 55% of millennial respondents own individual stocks, and 36% of Gen Z and 47% of millennial respondents report having a retirement account.
Gen Z's Financial Reality is an Everyday Struggle
According to research from ConsumerAffairs Research Team (2023): Workers in their twenties today have 86% less purchasing power than baby boomers did at the same age.
They are attracted to investing by the wide dissemination of financial information on social media and other online platforms; the increasing ability to invest with small amounts, often on investing apps designed for their generation; the prevalence and popularity of cryptocurrency; the fear of missing out (FOMO) on a ...
Diversify your portfolio
Data shows that 55% of Gen Z invest in cryptocurrencies, 41% in stocks, and 25% in NFTs. Most tend to avoid real estate avenues due to perceived high entry costs. However, understanding both traditional and new investment instruments is essential.
A gigantic wealth transfer over roughly the next decade will likely make millennials “the richest generation in history,” according to a report from global real estate consultancy Knight Frank.
By many measures, Generation Z is doing well. Compared with their parents at this age, young adults are more likely to have a college degree and work full time — particularly women, who are not only achieving increasing levels of education but also earning more.
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 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.
Gen Z workers also report the highest rates of wanting to quit their jobs within the last three months compared to all other generations. In addition to feeling the least engaged in work, Gen Z also finds their responsibilities uninspiring.
What are Gen Z buying the most?
Gen Z spending habits show they care the most about fashion, makeup and beauty products, technology, and their pets. This is perhaps due to their young age and few major bills.
More than one-in-10 (13%) Gen Zers currently earn income through social media, including content creation (53%), TikTok Shop (41%) and brand deals (33%). Of those who earn income through social media, more than a quarter do so as a full time job (26%) and more than half (56%) do so in addition to their full time job.
Gen Z has several things working against them besides just the state of the economy, housing market, and education system they were born into. They are dealing with a never-before-seen market that relies on instant, digital payments and may fuel impulsive spending.
The vast majority of Gen Z respondents reported that authenticity is more important than any other personal value tested, including: spending time on things that will help their futures, independence, changing the world, and being rich or famous. Gen Zs aren't looking for “picture perfect.”
Some 43% of Gen Z and 41% of millennials say they suffer from a flawed perception of their finances, according to a recent Credit Karma study. While it might sound like just another form of TikTok-induced anxiety, money dysmorphia is a real problem that can cause someone to make poor or ill-informed decisions.
Millennials were somewhat better off than Gen X—those born between 1965 and 1980—when they were the same age. Zoomers, however, are much better off than millennials were at the same age. The typical 25-year-old Gen Z-er has an annual household income of over $40,000, more than 50% above baby-boomers at the same age.
As societal trends continue to evolve, the narrative surrounding generational intelligence unfolds with fresh perspectives. A growing discourse suggests that Generation Z (Gen Z) is endowed with higher cognitive abilities compared to their predecessors, the Millennials.
Gen Z is better off financially than their parents at the same age—but drowning in debt, Pew says | Fortune.
They're now expected, on average, to live to 79. This average life expectancy is expected to further lengthen as time passes. The members of Generation Z, the oldest of which are now in their 20s, on average are expected to live to 100 and beyond.
Despite their growing presence in the workforce, a recent WalletHub survey found that more than one-quarter of Gen Z admits to lacking confidence in their financial knowledge, making them the least financially confident generation. Ultimately, this shows in their spending and investing habits.
What disadvantages does Gen Z have?
Gen Z's Lack of Professional Experience and Skills
“This makes it more difficult for managers to integrate them into teams. But there is also a generational issue at play. Gen Z can be challenging to work with because they are easily distracted and have poor communication skills.”
Generations | Born | Current Ages |
---|---|---|
Gen Z | 1997 – 2012 | 12 – 27 |
Millennials | 1981 – 1996 | 28 – 43 |
Gen X | 1965 – 1980 | 44 – 59 |
Boomers II (a/k/a Generation Jones)* | 1955 – 1964 | 60 – 69 |
Generation Z faces an uncertain financial world, and they're well aware they likely won't have the same benefits as generations that preceded them. Roughly one quarter (23%) of Gen Z don't expect to ever be able to retire, according to a recent McKinsey & Company study.
But according to WebMD, dermatologists say that is just not true. They say the two things that accelerate skin aging are the sun and smoking, which younger generations tend to shy away from compared to older generations.
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.
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