Gen Z vs. The Old Money Rules w/ Lillian Zhang #1070

Dec 3, 2025

In this chat with Lillian Zhang, a first-generation immigrant and author of The New Money Rules, we dive into the financial psyche of Gen Z. Lillian shares how COVID and job market shifts shape their money views. She critiques traditional strategies in favor of riskier investments that resonate more with younger folks. Lillian also touches on the importance of financial literacy and the evolving definition of financial freedom—moving from scarcity to valuing experiences. Plus, she champions the idea of 'loud budgeting' for social accountability!

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ANECDOTE

Immigrant Childhood Shaped Money Mindset

Lillian's parents emigrated from China in the 1980s and rebuilt their lives from scratch in the U.S.
She grew up hearing money arguments and developed a scarcity mindset that shaped her work and saving habits.

ANECDOTE

Etsy Business Taught Earning Early

Lillian ran an Etsy business through middle and high school and made her own allowance.
That early earning taught her the value of a dollar and practical money management habits.

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Let’s talk about money and “the youths” today! While a lot of personal finance advice is evergreen and helpful to folks of all ages, it’s also important to reach people where they are and in the way they like to consume information. As middle-aged dads, we hope to stay relevant, but we don’t have the same street cred as our guest today. We’re joined by Lillian Zhang who, as a first generation born American, carved her own path by figuring out the job search, learning how money works, and building wealth from scratch. She earned a degree from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and now works in Silicon Valley by day while writing and publishing her book: The New Money Rules. Today we discuss:

Gen Z feeling pressure to catch up with peers financially
Social media influencing Gen Z's perception of wealth
Riskier investments are appealing to younger generations
Traditional 'get rich slowly' strategies are less popular among Gen Z
Financial literacy is crucial for informed investing
Having money, practicing personal finance early on to cement concepts like tradeoffs
… and much more!

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

Lillian’s new book: The New Money Rules, but you can also keep up with her on Insta, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.
Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group!
Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

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Best friends out!

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