They’ve weathered market volatility, a pandemic and rising living costs — and fixed expenses often hit before their first paycheck even settles. As a financial advisor, I’ve never seen a generation so eager to build a future, yet so unsure whether that future is attainable.
This generation craves a future worth preparing for, and employers have a unique opportunity to provide financial access and education that can help get them there.
Retirement plans — often an investor’s first experience with wealth building — have become prized for a generation where stability is a status symbol. “Soft saving” — prioritizing stability and wellbeing now while saving modestly — is a rational response to frequent shocks and high living costs. Even starting small but consistently saving can help create financial stability and the freedom to pursue other goals with confidence.
Gen Z is looking to employers to help them make smart financial decisions the easy default and reduce decision fatigue. Employers can better support Gen Z by offering ways to automate savings and gradually increase contributions as income grows. Edward Jones and Morning Consult found that 66% of Gen Z-ers say they’d be more likely to participate in a workplace retirement plan if enrollment were easier.
That pause is a signal, not a verdict. In my experience, the most successful young investors are consistent with their contributions, but financial education is what will help build their willingness and confidence to stay the course.
Employers who modernize now can build a more resilient, engaged workforce for today and the future.
That’s the gap a strong workplace financial wellness program can help close. While a financial advisor can help guide Gen Z with saving and investing early in their careers, they can also help employers compare plans, understand the trade-offs, and choose a plan that aligns employees needs with business objectives.
Gen Z isn’t asking for an office happy hour. They’re asking for a fighting chance. If employers meet their ambition with real financial tools, not platitudes, this generation won’t just survive the economy they’re inheriting. They’ll transform it.
Disclosure: The author is a financial advisor at Edward Jones, whose proprietary research is cited in this commentary. Nothing herein constitutes personalized investment advice. The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
