We've Destroyed Millennials' & GenZ's Trust In The System | Kyla Scanlon

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Jul 1, 2025

Kyla Scanlon, an influential author and economic commentator, explores the turbulent financial landscape facing Millennials and Gen Z. She highlights their skepticism towards traditional systems fueled by issues like inflation and housing unaffordability. The conversation shifts to how younger generations are gravitating towards speculative investments and alternative career paths. Kyla emphasizes the importance of making financial literacy relatable, advocating for open dialogues to bridge generational divides and support younger voices in shaping a sustainable economic future.

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INSIGHT

Financial Nihilism in Youth

Younger adults exhibit deep distrust in institutions, reflected in their speculative financial behaviors.
This financial nihilism leads to gambling on meme stocks and coins over traditional investing.

INSIGHT

Youth's Dual Financial Strategies

Young people adopt a barbell strategy: some pursue high-risk bets while others favor tradeschool paths.
Escalating costs make traditional financial progress seem increasingly unattainable.

INSIGHT

Decline of College ROI

The ROI from college has declined, sometimes turning negative after costs and debt.
Tradeschool is becoming a viable and necessary alternative due to inflated costs and poor job prospects.

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I spend a lot of time on this channel talking with seasoned investors with decades of experience, the vast majority of whom are older than I -- oftentimes by several decades.But I'm no spring chicken.And I find myself more and more wondering how younger generations look at the world of finance and the economy -- especially with the daunting challenges they face: inflation & the high cost of living, extreme wealth inequality, record high housing unaffordability, AI's threat of mass jobs destruction, $37 trillion in national debt and growing...How are they feeling about stepping into the financial world they're inheriting? Is our education system teaching them financial literacy any better than the total failure it did with us?Where are they getting their financial information from?To find out, we have the pleasure of speaking with author, economic commentator, and educator Kyla Scanlon, one of the top Zillennial financial influencers. She is widely followed across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X and Substack.Follow Kyla on Substack at http://kyla.substack.com/Buy her book at https://www.amazon.com/This-Economy-Money-Markets-Really/dp/0593727878And follow her on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and X at @kylascanWORRIED ABOUT THE MARKET? SCHEDULE YOUR FREE PORTFOLIO REVIEW with Thoughtful Money's endorsed financial advisors at https://www.thoughtfulmoney.com#millennials #genz #investing 0:00 - Younger adults’ financial concerns6:05 - Barbell approach to financial strategies10:00 - Decline in college ROI and trade school rise15:31 - AI-driven job displacement concerns19:39 - Trump’s job creation promises22:00 - New York’s socialist election outcome26:05 - Attention economy’s influence29:34 - Generational shift in media consumption34:26 - Key takeaways from Scanlon’s book39:30 - Engaging younger generations on finance43:45 - Strategies for short-form content46:04 - Encouraging financial literacy in youth49:50 - Current economic and market outlook54:42 - Advice for older generations57:59 - Following Scanlon’s work1:01:05 - Closing and actionable financial advice_____________________________________________ Thoughtful Money LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor Promoter.We produce educational content geared for the individual investor. It’s important to note that this content is NOT investment advice, individual or otherwise, nor should be construed as such.We recommend that most investors, especially if inexperienced, should consider benefiting from the direction and guidance of a qualified financial advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or state securities regulators who can develop & implement a personalized financial plan based on a customer’s unique goals, needs & risk tolerance.IMPORTANT NOTE: There are risks associated with investing in securities.Investing in stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds, mutual funds, money market funds, and other types of securities involve risk of loss. Loss of principal is possible. Some high risk investments may use leverage, which will accentuate gains & losses. Foreign investing involves special risks, including a greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods.A security’s or a firm’s past investment performance is not a guarantee or predictor of future investment performance.Thoughtful Money and the Thoughtful Money logo are trademarks of Thoughtful Money LLC.Copyright © 2025 Thoughtful Money LLC. All rights reserved.