Most of Gen Z Respects Financial Professionals, Not Ready to Hire Them

The majority of Generation Z, including investors and non-investors, rely on social media and family members for financial information.


Investors in Generation Z cited financial professionals as a highly trusted source, but they are least likely to learn about investing from a financial professional, according to a joint study released Wednesday by the FINRA Foundation and the CFA Institute. The study defined Generation Z as those born from 1997 through 2012, although all respondents were at least 18 years old when surveyed.

Only 30% of Gen Z investors learned about investing from a financial professional, falling behind information gleaned from social media (48%), internet search (47%) and family (45%), according to the nonprofit financial organizations. Despite that reality, when asked to identify their most trusted sources for financial information, Gen Z investors placed financial professionals second at 24%. Parents and family were considered most trusted, at 27% of participants.

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Like Gen Z investors, non-investors were least likely to learn about financial topics from a professional (12%). Gen Z non-investors reported relying on parents and family most (51%), followed by social media (47%) and internet searches (38%). Meanwhile, non-investors placed less trust in financial professionals than their investing counterparts: Just 9% of non-investors named professionals as most trusted, ranking them sixth among 11 sources.

“It likely comes down to a matter of both the real and perceived affordability of financial advice,” said FINRA Foundation President Gerri Walsh in an emailed response. “Some Gen Z investors may not feel that the size of their asset base warrants seeking out a financial professional. That said, nearly a third of Gen Z investors (30%) are learning about investing and other financial topics from financial professionals.”

Gen Z investors prioritized planning-oriented financial goals, such as saving for retirement and building an emergency fund, according to the research. In contrast, Gen Z non-investors were focused on immediate needs. However, both groups are keen to travel and take advantage of vacation time.

The top financial goal of Gen Z investors was having enough money to travel and take vacation (62%), followed by saving for unexpected expenses (55%). Being able to retire when they choose and live comfortably came third at 51%.

Gen Z non-investors had different financial goals in mind: 63% reported being able to pay monthly bills and not living paycheck-to-paycheck as their top priorities. They also wanted to have enough money to travel (61%).

“Bottom line: Gen Z investors have higher household income than their non-investing peers and presumably have the wherewithal to focus more intently on longer-range goals,” Walsh wrote. “Non-investing Gen Zs are worried about paying their monthly bills and getting by until the next paycheck comes in. It’s also worth noting that Gen Z investors are much more likely than non-investors to benefit from financial transfers from family members.”

Walsh said there is both an opportunity and a need for educating Gen Z about financial issues. She pointed to the fact that among Gen Zs who are not yet investing, more than half (56%) cite lack of knowledge about investing as a barrier to participation in the markets. Other significant barriers cited include financial constraints such as lack of savings and income.

“We know from the study that Gen Z investors and non-investors are getting about the same amount of financial education in high school,” said Walsh. “The big differences are seen in what happens after high school. Gen Z investors are much more likely to continue receiving formal financial education (in college, at work or from a professional body of some kind) than their non-investing peers. Financial professionals might look for ways to close the gap in the formal learning that happens after high school. To do this, financial professionals will need a strong online presence, and they might seek ways to engage parents and their Gen Z children in intergenerational conversations about finances.”

The total sample size of the study included 2,872 participants, comprising Gen Z investors and non-investors, as well as Millennial and Generation X investors, in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and China.

NFP, Nationwide Name New Retirement Leaders

NFP appoints Joel Shapiro as president of retirement division; Nationwide taps Cheryl Thompson for head of retirement solutions operations.

 

Joel Shapiro

Two retirement industry players named new leaders this month, with insurance broker and consultant NFP elevating Joel Shapiro to president, and insurance and financial services firm Nationwide appointing Cheryl Thompson as head of retirement operations. 

Shapiro’s promotion, announced on May 18, elevates him from senior vice president, ERISA compliance, to president of NFP’s retirement advisory division. Shapiro brings three decades of industry experience, including 13 years in senior leadership roles with NFP’s retirement advisory division.  

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“We are excited for Joel to lead NFP’s Retirement division and drive its next phase of growth,” said Doug Hammond, NFP’s chairman and CEO, in a statement. “His leadership experience across retirement consulting and ERISA legislative and regulatory compliance makes him an excellent choice to lead our Retirement business.” 

Vince Giovinazzo and Nick Della Vedova, former CEO and President of NFP’s Retirement division, respectively, will be leaving NFP, but continuing with their roles heading flexPATH Strategies LLC and Retirement Plan Advisory Group, according to the release. Those firms are focused on technology, investment and service solutions for advisers working with plan sponsors and participants.  

Nationwide 

Cheryl Thompson

In other news announced May 17, Thompson was selected to lead Nationwide Financial’s retirement solutions operations team as vice president.  

In her new role, Thompson will lead retirement plan support services for the company. Thompson succeeds Wendy Shaw, who will lead the Nationwide shared business solutions team, according to the announcement.   

Thompson joined Nationwide in 1989 and has spent 34 years of her career at the firm. Her most recent role was as associate vice president of retirement solutions operations. 

“Cheryl’s passion for the business will help an already high-performing team become even better,” Eric Stevenson, president of Nationwide Retirement Solutions, said in a statement. “She is driven to propel Retirement Solutions to even higher experience levels in how we serve participants, plan sponsors and partners.” 

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