When I think of summertime, I think back to 17-year-old me — driving my car, windows down, not enough sunscreen on, listening to music. Summer always meant less noise, fewer worries about school and not being held hostage by alarms.
These memories have always evoked especially carefree feelings. Until now.
Today's (slightly older than 17) me is struck by the fear that for Gen Z (those born roughly between the late 1990s and early 2010s), summers aren't as insulated from the noise, especially from the echo chamber of social media. And that is causing distress.
Gen Z is inundated with content about the best clothes, the worst places to go to school, the "right" look. They are also exposed to endless financial content, almost daily, and I believe it is causing anxiety.
These young people are under extraordinary pressure to look like they have it all figured out — and it's preventing them from asking for help.
This article looks to quiet a bit of that noise and shine a light on some fundamental financial building blocks.
I'll also discuss where Gen Zers can find trusted, competent advisers to complement their knowledge and provide an appropriate level of support, and how they can create a life for themselves based on financial stability and security.
But first, a few recent examples of "noise."
Side hustles build wealth, but jobs are boring
One common narrative on social media involves downplaying the benefits that come from a traditional, 9-to-5 job. It romanticizes a version of entrepreneurship, which more closely resembles a side hustle that someone should be doing for joy and extra cash rather than to build wealth.
Entrepreneurial spirit and drive are important and can be great, but placing too much emphasis on these themes can make Gen Zers feel bad about not monetizing hobbies. Instead, I think it's more important to think about how to create wealth from your career.
Take workplace benefits, for example. These are a largely invisible form of compensation. A company matching a 401(k) contribution, access to health and disability insurance, or the ability to save into a health savings account or flexible spending account can be incredibly valuable when life takes an ugly turn.
Simply having a predictable cash flow itself is a huge benefit for someone looking to build wealth. It means you can automate savings, anticipate how much you can invest and plan for the future.
Girl/boy math and 'no-spend' months
Some catchphrases are funny — for example, using the term "girl/boy math" to justify unnecessary spending (if you return a shirt that costs $50, you made $50).
"No-spend months," on the other hand, create a restrictive mindset more akin to dieting.
Both can lead to unhealthy financial behavior because they turn budgeting into a game or punishment.
In reality, budgeting is an exercise where you look at your cash inflow and determine how much you can spend on necessary costs, such as rent or a car payment, and discretionary costs, such as dining out, taking that vacation or bulking up savings.
By creating short- and long-term goals, you can create a meaningful, attainable budget that is sustainable for your overall financial health.
Be your own financial adviser — it's easy
No. It's not. While I appreciate the spirit of independence, it's risky to think you shouldn't ask a professional for help because you should be able to do it on your own using "facts" available on the internet.
There's a big difference between being able to access financial information and being able to understand it. Having the ability to sift through what is fact or fiction and apply it to your situation can be incredibly complex — and that's where professional help is useful.
Gen Zers seem to select financial advisers with a decent amount of skepticism and due diligence — and this is a good thing.
But those who hire professionals know the good ones can help educate and coach them to make their own financial decisions, accept new ideas and keep them on track to achieve their financial goals.
Setting the right foundations
This is just a sample of the noise that Gen Z constantly hears. There are plenty more examples and some can be pretty insidious, promising dreams of getting rich quick.
If we can do one thing for our Gen Z friends and family, it's to give them a foundation that helps them feel great about their own choices now and in future. Then maybe they can get back to what young people should be doing this summer — having some fun.
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This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.
