Gen Ys in need of savings advice

21 May 2013
| By Staff |
image
image
expand image

Gen Ys are spending sleepless nights worrying about their finances but many do not trust planners enough to seek professional advice, according to a REST Industry Super survey.

It found that almost two thirds of Gen Ys had been kept awake at night by financial concerns and 61 per cent had never been taught how to save.

REST Industry Super chief executive Damian Hill said it was not surprising that Gen Ys worried about finances, given their low take-up of financial advice.

Half of the respondents said they would not talk to a financial adviser while one in 10 completely distrusts them.

"With over half the generation refusing to talk to a financial expert, and one in 10 completely distrusting them, we have to reassess the role of family, government and financial institutions, including superannuation funds, in educating young people about money and helping them make the most of their short-term and long-term financial goals," Hill said.

Of the small number who received financial advice, 72 per cent said they found it useful.

Gen Ys did acknowledge the importance of saving but did not appear to know how to save properly, the survey found.

Saving was important to 87 per cent of Gen Ys with two thirds saving regularly, but those working full time were more likely to save for a holiday or wedding than a house deposit.

Nearly two thirds of Gen Ys had not been taught anything about money from parents and 70 per cent were reluctant to go to family for budgeting, savings or investment advice.

Smart phone apps are not having as big an effect as financial institutions may have hoped, with only 39 per cent using financial or money-related apps.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

11 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

11 months 1 week ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

11 months 1 week ago

Jim Chalmers has defended changes to the Future Fund’s mandate, referring to himself as a “big supporter” of the sovereign wealth fund, amid fierce opposition from the Co...

2 days 2 hours ago

Demand from institutional investors was the main driver of growth in Australia’s responsible investment (RI) market in 2023, as the industry continued to gain momentum....

2 days 2 hours ago

In a new review of the country’s largest fund, a research house says it’s well placed to deliver attractive returns despite challenges....

2 days 3 hours ago