One-third of Americans are somewhat or extremely pessimistic about the potential impact of AI on their careers, according to a recent survey from Northwestern Mutual's "
Gen Z adults are the most pessimistic on this point at 46%, followed by 33% of Gen Xers. Overall, 23% of Americans across age groups are somewhat or extremely optimistic about the impact of AI on their careers.
The Northwestern Mutual survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll between January 5 and January 21, studied Americans' attitudes and behaviors toward money and found that 20% of adults believe they will never be financially independent. The report notes that even with the intergenerational "
"This is a massive wake-up call for America," said Jeff Sippel, chief strategy officer at Northwestern Mutual. "The 'Great Wealth Transfer' is real, but an inheritance isn't something most Americans can rely on. Fewer than one in three Americans plan to leave an inheritance behind, and the average inheritance is below $50,000. True financial independence starts with a comprehensive plan that moves people out of the passenger seat and firmly behind the wheel of their own financial destiny."
According to the survey, 37 is the average age at which Americans say they have achieved or expect to achieve financial independence. Currently, financially dependent young adults are more confident that they will eventually achieve self-sufficiency than older generations: 82% of Gen Z adults and 56% of financially-dependent Millennials responded with optimism.
"It's encouraging to see Gen Z bringing such optimism to their financial journey. They also have something valuable on their side: time," said Sippel. "For Millennials and Gen Xers who feel less certain, the door to independence has not closed. Confidence comes from clarity. Americans at any age and stage can take a step toward self-sufficiency — and if they don't feel confident doing that on their own, a trusted financial advisor can be their guide."
