MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Millennials are often labeled as being financially irresponsible, spending too much on frivolous things or experiences, but they are actually positioning themselves to be in better financial shape than other generations, according to the Generations Ahead Study* from Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life®). The study found that 77% of millennials feel financially confident (compared to only 64% of Gen Xers) and 48% of those with a 401(k) contribute 10% or more on a monthly basis – which is the highest percentage of any other generation (only 36% of Gen Xers and 44% of boomers reported the same).
Further supporting this financial progress, 41% of millennials reported they always set aside money each month for saving (compared to only 36% of Gen Xers) and 58% believe saving for retirement is a basic necessity, like food or housing. Many millennials (71%) also use “tricks” to make saving money easier. For example, the majority of them use several different accounts to automatically save their money for specific purposes (one for everyday expenses, one for a particular loan, one for a special trip, etc.). Millennials also reported their median retirement savings to be $35,000, which is equal to Gen Xers, who have less time to build their nest egg.
Social media dangers
As their financial strength builds,
however, social media has become the millennials’ financial Achilles’
heel. More than half (55%) reported experiencing a fear of missing out
(FOMO) and 57% spent money they hadn’t planned to because of what they
saw on their social media feeds. The vast majority (88%) of millennial
respondents also believe social media creates more of a tendency to
compare one’s wealth/lifestyle with others (versus 71% of Gen Xers and
54% of boomers). Sixty-one percent feel inadequate about their own life
and what they have because of social media. And perhaps due to this
FOMO, half also claim they spend more money going out than they do on
rent or mortgage.
“Millennials are finding innovative ways to build their financial strength and are becoming more confident because of these actions,” said Paul Kelash, vice president of Consumer Insights for Allianz Life. “But, more than any other generation, social media and the allure to spend beyond their means could have long-term negative effects on their finances if they’re not careful.”
Learning from the past, seeking help for the future
Recent
financial traumas witnessed by millennials have also had a profound
effect. Nearly a quarter (24%) of millennials saw their parents suffer a
major financial setback during the recession of 2008-2009 and possibly
because of this, 57% said they are unlikely to ever invest in the stock
market. Additionally, 65% are uncomfortable with too much debt because
they saw their parents struggle with it.
“While it’s promising that many millennials are working to avoid debt and build savings, seeing such a large number of them averse to investing is a concern,” added Kelash. “A balanced approach to saving and investing is a strong recipe for a solid retirement and if they have worries, a financial professional can help them find the right balance.”
The study also found that this generation is the most open to getting help. While the vast majority of millennials (70%) use online apps or tools to help them manage their money, human support is still very valuable to them. In fact, 40% of millennials said they have a financial professional and work closely with them (compared to only 25% of Gen Xers).They also prefer to communicate in person with a financial professional (42% ranked it as their first choice with phone communication coming in second at 19%). Many millennials believe having a financial professional would give them some relief from the pressure of trying to plan for their family’s future, as 70% are overwhelmed by the thought of how they could provide for themselves and their family in the long term.
For more information about the financial behaviors of millennials, how they compare to other generations, and all the Generations Ahead Study insights, visit AllianzLife.com/GenerationsAhead.
About Allianz Life Insurance Company of North
America
Allianz
Life Insurance Company of North America, one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best
Companies to Work For in 2017, has been keeping its promises since 1896.
Today, it carries on that tradition, helping Americans achieve their
retirement income and protection goals with a variety of annuities and
life insurance products. In 2016, Allianz Life provided a total of $2.6
billion in benefit payments that supported policyholders’ financial
objectives. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life
is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services
industry with 142,000 employees in more than 70 countries worldwide.
More than 85 million private and corporate customers rely on Allianz
knowledge, global reach, and capital strength to help them make the most
of financial opportunities.
*The Allianz Generations Ahead Study was conducted by Larson Research + Strategy via online survey in May 2017 with 3,006 U.S. adults ages 20-70 with a minimum household income of $30K+, and was commissioned by Allianz Life.
