What is Gen Z?
Gen Z
Gen Z is the cohort born between 1997 and 2012, often discussed in the context of financial nihilism and learned financial helplessness.
How it developed
- May 2026 - Vivian Tu coined the term “learned financial helplessness” to describe a Gen Z mindset that the world is so pitted against them that they shouldn’t even try.
- Jul 2026 - Melisa Tokmak observed that Gen Z in hiring is obsessed with a “permanent underclass mentality,” feeling they must make money within 18 months.
- Aug 2026 - Michael Batnick reported that 26% of Gen Z investors (born between 1997 and 2007) said they treat sports betting as a deliberate ongoing component of their financial plans, according to an online survey of 10,000 retail investors.
- Aug 2026 - Jason Yanowitz noted that 52% of Gen Z said they had taken funds they would have otherwise invested in the stock market or something else and moved it into sports, and that 26% of Gen Z believe sports betting is part of their financial strategy.
- Aug 2026 - Ben Carlson countered that Gen Z really is better off in terms of income, stock market dollars, and wealth by age.
In the evidence
Every line below is attributed to a named speaker.
Vivian Tu coins the term 'learned financial helplessness' to describe Gen Z disengagement from personal finance.
“It's something in the book that I coined called learned financial helplessness. And it's this idea that the world is already so pitted against me that I shouldn't even try.”Vivian Tu · 11 May 2026
26% of Gen Z investors (born 1997 to 2007) treat sports betting as a deliberate ongoing part of their financial plans, per an online survey of 10,000 retail investors.
“26% of Gen Z investors born between 97 and 2007 said they treat sports betting as a deliberate ongoing component of their financial plans, according to an online survey of 10,000 retail investors.”Michael Batnick · 19 Aug 2026
Learned financial helplessness: the perception that systemic barriers make personal financial effort pointless, causing disengagement rather than action.
“It's something in the book that I coined called learned financial helplessness. And it's this idea that the world is already so pitted against me that I shouldn't even try.”Vivian Tu · 11 May 2026
Gen Z is financially better off than prior generations at the same age on income, stock market participation, and total wealth, contradicting the dominant narrative that young people are struggling.
“Gen Z really is better off in terms of income, in terms of stock market dollars, in terms of wealth by age.”Ben Carlson · 19 Aug 2026
26% of Gen Z consider sports betting a formal part of their financial strategy.
“26% of Gen Z think said that they believe that sports betting is a, you know, a part of their financial strategy.”Jason Yanowitz · 14 Aug 2026
52% of Gen Z report moving funds they would have otherwise invested in the stock market into sports betting.
“52% of Gen Z said that they, had taken funds they would have otherwise invested in the stock market or something else and moved it into, sports.”Jason Yanowitz · 14 Aug 2026
Melisa Tokmak on Gen Z's anxiety about AI displacement and wealth accumulation timelines.
“I see especially Gen Z in these days when I'm you know looking at hiring obsessed with this permanent underclass mentality if I don't make my money in the next 18 months.”Melisa Tokmak · 31 Jul 2026
Gen Z is turning to religion as an act of rebellion against secular parents, inverting the usual narrative of youth driving religious decline.
“I talked to a lot of young people who look at that, and they say, in almost like a rebellion against their parents, they're now interested in that.”Wesley Huff · 9 Mar 2026