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.
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.
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.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): Vertex's combined scientific strength and surging momentum make it a top Gen Z stock. Starbucks (SBUX): Gen Z's customized drink sales are sending Starbucks' revenue sky-high. Tilray Brands (TLRY): Gen Z prefers cannabis over alcohol, but Tilray has both markets covered.
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 Zers face greater obstacles to financial success
Not only are their wages lower than their parents' earnings when they were in their 20s and 30s, but they are also carrying larger student loan balances.
Millennials stand to become the richest generation in history, after $90 trillion wealth transfer | CNN Business.
According to a recent economic report, Gen Z is very driven by social media influence when making investing decisions. This can lead to FOMO (fear of missing out) and risky suggestions that could cost Gen Z what money they've managed to make in their young lives.
A growing discourse suggests that Generation Z (Gen Z) is endowed with higher cognitive abilities compared to their predecessors, the Millennials. This assertion prompts an exploration into the unique characteristics and experiences that might contribute to the perception of heightened intelligence within Gen Z.
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.
What do Gen Z mostly buy?
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.
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.
As digital natives, 56% of US Gen Z prefer to shop online than in-store. The number who buy products online at least weekly has jumped 28% since Q2 2020 – proof that their Covid shopping habits have stuck around, and actually become more ingrained than they were during the height of the pandemic.
Today, middle class describes a broad economic group making up roughly half of the U.S. population. Typically, it has consisted of those in white-collar jobs, small businesses or skilled trades. According to the Pew Research Center, the middle class includes Americans making between $38,133 and $114,400 in 2023.
Kim Jung-min - $1.7 billion
Kim Jung-min inherited a third of her family's assets when her father, Kim Jung-ju, died in February of 2022, leaving her with a net worth of $1.7 billion at the age of 21, Forbes reports. Her family is known for owning Nexon, an online gaming company in South Korea.
While just over half of Gen Z (52%) feel confident that they're on track to meet their financial goals, fewer than half (48%) are fully or even mostly financially independent. However, Gen Z still feel able to handle everyday financial activities.
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.
While the survey indicates that three out of four managers find Gen Z to be the most challenging to work with, Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at ResumeBuilder, suggests that the challenges managers face with this generation may be attributed more to their companies' lack of preparedness.
She says Gen Z faces more challenges in some ways than previous generations. “There's a growth in inequality in the transition to adulthood. There's a lot of changes in culture and norms, insecurity more generally, in terms of climate change and the war and school shootings and rapid inflation.
Gen Z is also the smartest and best educated generation. Having an unlimited wealth of information at our disposal has not gone to waste. In America, 57 percent of Gen Z is reported to have enrolled in a two-year or four-year college, compared to 52 percent of Millenials and 43 percent of Gen X.
What generation has the most mental health issues?
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.
Retirement isn't cheap. In fact, a recent analysis conducted by Wealthcare Financial found that by the time Gen Z and millennials retire, they will need around $120,000 to $150,000 per year to live comfortably — making $3 million the average amount they need to retire. So, it's important to start saving early.
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.
Seventy-seven percent of Generation Z expect to work harder than previous generations. Millennials became optimistic thanks to their encouraging Baby Boomer parents and growing up in a time of prosperity and opportunity.
It is a known fact that lifespan increases with each generation. For baby boomers, the average life expectancy is 70 years, for Gen X its 85, and newer generations like Gen Z and Alpha will likely exceed the 100-year mark.
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