financial malaise of today’s young professionals
The financial news landscape is filled with overused generalities and stereotypes to explain why young professionals are struggling. It’s easier to chase clicks with buzzwords than to critically examine what’s happening in the U.S. today. So, let’s talk about it—without the filter, and without the pandering.
To put it bluntly: Young professionals can’t buy homes, can’t pay off their debts, and can’t afford the cost of living—at least not without some form of financial assistance from family. And no, it’s not because of avocado toast, lattes, or laziness. If you weren’t born at exactly the right time, your financial reality may look drastically different than someone just a few years older. The factors behind this shift are complex—geopolitical, societal, and economic—but let’s break them down.
The Greed Factor—And Why It’s Not Just Billionaires
One popular narrative blames corporate greed and billionaires for wrecking the economy. While wealth hoarding is a problem, greed isn’t confined to the ultra-rich—it’s embedded in the culture. The “abundance mindset” has been rebranded as aspirational, but when it results in excessive wealth accumulation, it has real consequences. A system that incentivizes owning 20+ properties or driving up costs for short-term gains ultimately prices out an entire generation. Yet, the harder conversation is about how we all, in some way, play into this system—whether we realize it or not.
How We Got Here—A Timeline of Systemic Shifts
The foundations of today’s financial landscape were laid decades ago. In the 1970s and 80s, companies shifted away from pensions, putting retirement responsibility solely on employees. Reaganomics introduced “trickle-down” policies that never quite trickled down. While these economic shifts were slow-moving, their consequences exploded in real-time just a few years ago.
By 2019, the U.S. was coming off a long bull market. Wages were steady, inflation was low, and a four-year degree could land you a stable job at around $50,000. If you graduated around this time, your financial future looked relatively stable. Then—Covid happened.
The Covid Effect—A Generational Financial Reset
For young professionals at the start of their careers in 2020, the financial impact was catastrophic. The unemployment rate for this group skyrocketed past 25% in early 2020. One in four young professionals found themselves out of work while rent, student loans, and bills continued. The life trajectory we had been conditioned to expect—college, stable job, financial growth—was put on hold.
When the economy restarted, it was a different world. Interest rates were rising, inflation was surging, and the housing market had become nearly impossible to enter. A small difference in age suddenly meant a huge difference in financial security. Someone who graduated in 2019 may have locked in a low mortgage rate and built financial momentum. Someone who graduated in 2020? They likely burned through savings and are still struggling to catch up. Five years later, it still feels like starting from scratch.
Redefining Success—And Taking Control
It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind when success is measured by outdated standards. Owning a home by 30, landing a six-figure salary, and hitting certain financial milestones were benchmarks built for a different economy—one with cheaper housing, stable job markets, and lower costs of living. It’s time to reframe the conversation around financial success.
Instead of chasing someone else’s version of success, here’s how to move forward—without the pressure:
✅ Redefine Your Financial Goals – Instead of focusing on outdated expectations, focus on what actually matters to you. Maybe financial independence means something different—like flexibility, career autonomy, or the ability to travel. Your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
✅ Control What You Can – The economy is unpredictable, but your financial habits are within your control. Small, consistent wins—like building an emergency fund, negotiating your salary, or investing wisely—compound over time.
✅ Detach Self-Worth from Net-Worth – Your financial situation doesn’t define your value. Gratitude for what you do have—your skills, resilience, and opportunities—can shift the focus from what’s missing to what’s possible.
✅ Give Yourself Grace – You don’t have to figure it all out overnight. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress, on your own terms.
The truth is, many of us are still “figuring it out.” And that’s okay. Financial success isn’t about hitting arbitrary milestones—it’s about adapting, growing, and defining it for yourself.
