[gedy]

> Gen Z started saving for retirement at the median age of 19, earlier than any other generation

? Median? These numbers seem unrealistic for anyone I know who went to college, and those who didn't are in low pay jobs with no retirement plan

[garethsprice]

"Gen Z... in the survey pool". It's a good study, and used solid methodology for finding participants (Harris poll). But the pool of people who will self-select to do a 30+ minute personal finance survey in exchange for points that can be exchanged for gift cards is inherently going to skew towards the kind of people with the aptitude (and, for the young, parental influence) to start saving early.

Still a useful stat in the relative sense to compare inter-generationally, or to previous surveys.

[uncletaco]

The study said four in five gen z investors. I wonder how many of those gen z investors maybe bought a little crypto along the way when it was a fad.

[Ekaros]

Or got Robin Hood account and deposited minimum amount of money to speculate on whatever...

[not_the_fda]

Yes, thats what they mean by "investing". I don't consider meme stocks investing, but I'm a grumpy Gen Xer.

[unforeseen9991]

That's because it's not investing, it's speculating at best, and usually just gambling. Investing is just another word we've lost in recent years from people trying to justify to themselves that they aren't acting like fucking idiots.

Reminds me of Carlin's bit about the softening of language.

[Ekaros]

Also median of 19. Meaning quite good bit would have started saving before age of 18 right? That sounds off... Considering what type of jobs they would have had.

[randomdata]

> Meaning quite good bit would have started saving before age of 18 right?

Not necessarily. It is quite possible for the median to be 19 even with nobody saving before the age of 19.

Consider a case of 10 people. 6 started saving at the age of 19. 4 started after the age of 19. 0 started saving before the age of 19. The median age is: 19.

> That sounds off... Considering what type of jobs they would have had.

Why?

1. Jobs aren't the only way to get money.

2. Typically parents cover living expenses at that age, so job income is pure profit.

3. You don't need huge sums of money to invest.

[PurpleRamen]

I think this is more about the mindset and knowledge, than the actual money.