OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Facing worries of unemployment, diminishing Social Security benefits and an average student loan debt of $29,000, those in Generation Z (ages 15-24) understand the importance of saving. TD Ameritrade’s 3rd Annual Generation Z survey takes a closer look at what this generation is doing right and where there is room for improvement. The survey also polled Generation Y (ages 25-37) this year, to see how these two generations differ.
Biggest Financial Worries: Unemployment, Student Loans and Social Security
When asked, in an open-ended question, their biggest concern with today’s economy, members of Gen Z were most likely to say jobs/unemployment. This was their biggest worry in 2013 as well. However, it appears to have diminished, down to 25 percent from 34 percent, mirroring, perhaps, the improvement in employment rate for the class of 2014.
Kaci F., a Gen Z intern for TD Ameritrade, shares this sentiment, “It’s very difficult to find a job right now, but I think the economy has been getting better. I think we have a better chance now than a couple years ago finding employment.”
One shift that Kaci and others in her generation are experiencing is securing post-college internships rather than full-time jobs. “I think that will become the new norm,” says Kaci.
Brenna L., a fellow intern at TD Ameritrade agrees. “Employment right now so heavily relies on experience,” she says, “and for our generation getting that experience and getting our foot in the door is the hardest, so people like us are interning in our 20s because we need that experience.”
Jobs may be today’s worry, but members of Gen Z have some future concerns on their minds as well. An increased number of those in Gen Z – from 39 percent in 2013 to 44 percent this year – fear that Social Security and other similar government retirement programs will be depleted by the time they retire. And, as the average student loan debt has continued to climb, it’s no surprise that nearly half (44%) of those in Gen Z say they worry about having a large student loan balance when they graduate.
Gen Z vs. Gen Y: Is College Worth It?
Despite fears of accruing too much student loan debt, the majority of those in Gen Z (72%) have attended, are currently in or plan to attend college. Additionally, 53 percent say they plan to pursue an advanced degree. That’s likely because they increasingly believe that a college education is key to their success (60% feel it’s very important, up from 54% in 2013). The older members of Gen Y are less likely to see college as very important (47%). However, among those in Gen Y who went to college, 51 percent still feel their college education was worth every penny invested.
A few, like Demarcus J., a recent Gen Z graduate and former TD Ameritrade intern, feel that there is value in gaining an advanced degree. “The bachelor’s today is like getting a high school degree,” he says. “You have to have it in order to be competitive in the job market. I think that having a master’s gives you a more competitive edge.”
As the average cost of a four-year degree continues to rise, most (65%) high school-aged Gen Zers expect to pay tuition with assistance from scholarships and grants. The reality, however, may be a bit different: Only 54 percent of post-college Gen Zers and 50 percent of those in Gen Y actually benefited from scholarships and grants.
Gen Z: First Jobs, Money Lessons and Saving for the Future
Parents: Your kids are listening. Members of Gen Z (51%) report that their parents are the number one resource for learning about finances. According to the survey, 84 percent of those in Gen Z say their parents discussed the importance of saving, on average, by age 14.
However these financial lessons are being taught, it appears that good financial habits are being formed. A few highlights of Gen Z’s fiscal responsibility from the survey include:
- Those in Gen Z increasingly feel that saving is very important (57%) at this point in their lives, up from 50 percent in 2013.
- If handed $500, nine of 10 Gen Zers say they would save at least some of it.
- And their budgeting skills are improving with age, as 36 percent say they have a budget and follow it (up from 27% in 2013).
“Talking to your child about money can be a difficult discussion,” said Nicole Sherrod, managing director at TD Ameritrade. “However, we’ve seen from our previous research that children who had parents who spoke to them at an early age about fiscal responsibility are more likely to better understand the importance of saving and have good budgeting habits. It’s never too early to start having discussions with your children about money.”
Teaching Opportunities: Managing Credit Card Debt, Saving for Retirement and Investing
While members of Gen Z appear to be taking some good steps toward their financial futures, there are some areas in which they could use a little guidance.
For one, it appears credit card debt increases with age. The average debt for:
- College-age Gen Z: $559
- Post-College-age Gen Z: $975
- Gen Y: $1,946
Furthermore, fewer members of Gen Z surveyed in 2014 (43%) say they pay off their credit card bills monthly compared to 2013 (59%).
Life after College: Moving Back in with Mom & Dad?
So what does the future hold for Gen Z? Nearly half (49%) of those surveyed say they have moved out or plan to be out of the house by age 20, while only 40 percent of those in Gen Y say that they moved out by age 20.
Like last year, those in Gen Z say the age they’d be embarrassed to still be living at home with their parents is 28. But, Gen Y wouldn’t feel so until age 31, on average. And what’s more, 17 percent of Gen Y survey respondents say they wouldn’t be embarrassed until age 40 or even older.
Whenever they leave the nest, Gen Z wants to find a job that inspires them with the vast majority (74%) saying that feeling inspired by their work is more important or equal to the salary they earn. They are also looking for a job that allows them to make a positive contribution to society (59%). Thirty-six percent of those in Gen Z would prefer to be self-employed/entrepreneur, rather than traditionally employed.
Investing for the Future
Whatever the future holds, most Gen Zers say they plan to start a job, buy a car, pay off student debt, get married, buy a home, THEN begin saving for retirement – in that order. On average, Gen Z believe the right age to start saving for retirement is 27.
“I don’t think my generation really thinks about savings like we should,” says Caitlin N., an intern for TD Ameritrade. According to the survey, only one in five Generation Z respondents say they are currently saving for retirement.
And, how does Gen Z plan to go about saving for retirement? Just 17 percent believe that the best way to plan for retirement is to invest in the stock market. While that’s up from 11 percent a year ago, many more (47%) believe that a savings account is the best way to prepare for retirement.
"While it’s promising to see that Gen Z is starting off with a good understanding of the importance of investing and saving, there is a tremendous opportunity to help educate them on all of the available options,” says Sherrod. “Teaching those lessons before they leave the nest can have an impact on how they pursue their long-term financial goals. However, it’s just as important that young people have access to financial resources to help them put these lessons into practice when they leave home and enter the lecture halls.”
The survey found that only 10 percent of those in Gen Z report learning financial lessons from a teacher or course at school. Many Gen Z respondents (42%) report they have not taken a class about investing, largely because there were no classes available (40%).
“Educators need the tools and support to instill these financial lessons and that was one of the reasons why we created TD Ameritrade U,” adds Sherrod. “Our program offers professors an interactive curriculum that can help cultivate a passion for investing in their students. Through TD Ameritrade U, students can conduct research, place paper trades and manage positions, using our award-winning thinkorswim desktop and mobile trading platforms to bridge the gap between the classroom and real world.”
Regardless of age – teens, 20s or 30s – it’s never too early to start learning how to invest and save for the future.
Video interviews and full survey findings can be found at http://www.amtd.com/newsroom/research-and-story-ideas/research-and-story-ideas-details/2014/Generation-Z-and-Money-Survey
More information about TD Ameritrade U, visit www.tdameritradeu.com.
For the latest news and information about TD Ameritrade, follow the Company on Twitter, @TDAmeritradePR.
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About the 2013 Gen Z Survey Methodology
An online survey was
conducted among N=1,000 Americans aged 14 to 23 from April 25 to May 6,
2013, by Head Research on behalf of TD Ameritrade, Inc. Sample was drawn
from major regions in proportion to the U.S census. The statistical
margin of error for overall survey results in this study is +/- 3%
(assumes panelists do not differ from non-panelists, and respondents do
not differ from non-respondents). This means that, in 19 out of 20
cases, survey results for questions based on all survey respondents
(N=1,000) will differ by no more than 3% in either direction from what
would have been obtained by measuring the opinions of all Americans aged
14 to 23.
About the 2014 Gen Z Survey Methodology
An online survey was
conducted among N=1,000 U.S. residents born between 1990 and 1999 (Gen
Z) and N=500 U.S. residents born between 1977 and 1989 (Gen Y) from
April 30 to May 12, 2014, by Head Research on behalf of TD Ameritrade,
Inc. Sample was drawn from major regions in proportion to the U.S.
census. The statistical margin of error for the total Gen Z sample is
+/- 3.1% (assumes responders are the same as non-responders and that
panelists are the same as non-panelists). This means that, in 19 out of
20 cases, survey results will differ by no more than 3.1 percentage
points in either direction from what would have been obtained by
measuring the opinions of all target group members.
