Can Millennials Ever Catch Up to Boomer Wealth?
Written by
Jordan Rosenfeld
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Baby boomers seem to have gotten the best of everything financially — they are the generation that bought homes and cars, raised families, took vacations, paid for college and have strong retirements, and all on one income in many cases. Additionally, “pensions were still a thing, and the cost of living didn’t eat your paycheck before it even hit the bank,” according to Trevor Houston, CEO at ClearPath Wealth Strategies, LLC.
Millennials, on the other hand, inherited student debt, wage stagnation and recessions at every critical career milestone, Houston pointed out. It’s unsurprising that boomers hold as much as 53.2% of the wealth in the U.S. compared to millenials’ 4.6% of the wealth, according to Bloomberg.
Can millennials catch up? Experts suggested it is possible, especially as more of them head into their higher earning years.
Millennials Make Competitive Salaries
“Baby boomers may have had lower education and housing costs, but they didn’t make the salaries that many millennials make today,” said Nancy Anderson, regional planning director at Key Private Bank.
Additionally, she said it’s important not to forget that boomers also experienced severe inflation in the 1970s, characterized by persistent high inflation rates, rising food and energy prices and the end of wage and price controls. Millennials, who have been investing and making smart financial choices, could be well on track to catch up.
Establish or Maintain Good Habits
Good financial habits that can help millennials bridge the gap include prioritizing saving with consistency in your saving and investment plan and budgeting, Anderson said.
“It is important to balance saving for the future while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle.”
That can be accomplished by keeping fixed expenses in check while prioritizing saving and investing, she pointed out.
“A big mistake that some professionals make is to increase lifestyle expenses and sacrifice wealth building as income levels rise.”
Budget for Wealth
Also, millennials should build their budgets with wealth creation in mind, Anderson said. Start by setting aside 10% of your paycheck into your long-term savings plan such as a 401(k) especially if you have a company match. Then she recommended a breakdown of expenses as percentages of income as follows:
Fixed Expenses: Total of 50% to 55% of income
- Housing: 32% to 40%
- Utilities: 4% to 6%
- Transportation: 5% to 10%
- Medical and health insurance: 4% to 8%
Variable Expenses: 25% to 30% of income
- Groceries: 8% to 13%
- Entertainment (includes dining): 6% to 11%
- Subscriptions and miscellaneous: 2% to 5%
Savings and Investing: 20% of income
- 401(k) pretax or Roth: 10%
- Personal saving and investing: 10%
Start Where You Are
If you feel late to the game and are playing catch-up, Houston recommended, “Start where you are. Even if you feel late, the best time to plant that money tree was 10 years ago, the second-best time is today.”
Make smart choices like automating your savings, regularly investing and finding ways to bring in additional income.
“You don’t need to hit a home run, just get on base. Momentum is more powerful than timing,” he said.
Lean Into Compound Interest
Don’t forget about the power of compound interest, Houston said. “Compound interest doesn’t ask how old you are it just asks if you’re consistent,” he said.
He urged millennials to use what’s available to them, starting with a Roth IRA, contributing to your 401(k) if there’s a match and automating savings where you can.
“The key isn’t picking the perfect strategy, it’s getting started and staying consistent. The key is automation. Set it and forget it. And don’t try to time the market, time in the market is what builds wealth.”
Side Hustle Your Way to Wealth
In this economy, “a single income is too close to zero,” Houston said. “Side hustles aren’t just for extra cash, they’re for building freedom.”
Whether it’s consulting, freelancing or monetizing a skill online, every additional income stream gives you more control. Try turning your talents into tools, he urged.
Adopt a Strategic Mindset
As most financial experts will agree, you can’t build wealth just by earning and saving it — you have to invest it, be strategic about it and set goals.
“That means budgeting with intention, tracking your net worth and realizing that financial freedom isn’t about having it all, it’s about owning your time,” Houston said. “Small consistent habits beat big occasional efforts.”
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