wealth management Archives - DIYmoneytrack.com

Gen Z, financial nihilism, and why financial education matters more than ever

A recent article from the World Economic Forum highlights a growing trend among Gen Z (currently aged between 18 and 27 years old) often described as “financial nihilism” — the belief that traditional paths to financial success no longer work.

Faced with stagnant wages, rising housing costs, student debt, and economic uncertainty, many young adults are turning to riskier financial behaviors such as cryptocurrency speculation, prediction markets, and high-risk investing.

The article argues that these behaviors are not simply reckless decisions, but often rational responses to a system that feels increasingly out of reach. Homeownership is harder to achieve, retirement feels distant, and many young people believe slow-and-steady saving may never be enough.

The gift of growth: How to build your child’s wealth with appreciating assets

If you become a parent, you’ll naturally want to help your children financially—but how you provide that support is just as consequential as how much you give. Cash gifts spent on consumption often disappear quickly. But gifts directed toward assets that appreciate or build long-term economic value—such as education, homeownership, and even life milestones like marriage—can dramatically improve a child’s financial trajectory.

Instead of giving unrestricted money, consider structuring gifts so they can only be used for wealth-building investments. When done thoughtfully, these gifts function less like spending money and more like early capital investment in a child’s life.

Keep reading if you are interested in learning why appreciating-asset gifts matter and how to create a family investment philosophy for purposeful gifting.

How do you compare to the wealthiest U.S. households?

What do the wealthiest households own that separates them from others?

The answer to that question can be found in research data from the Federal Reserve on the distribution of U.S. household financial accounts.

This data allows you to compare the level, composition, and share of assets and liabilities with households in other wealth percentile groups, and see what the wealthiest households buy and own that makes them different.

If you are interested in learning what assets are prioritized by the wealthiest households and how you compare, please read on.