In a new Wells Fargo study on the attitudes and behaviors of millennials on money and saving, more than half (54%) say their top financial concern is debt. That’s right, primarily student loan debt. And 42% say their debt is “overwhelming” — twice the rate of boomers who were also surveyed.
Other key findings:
· Sixty-one percent of millennials consider themselves “a saver”. The gender differences are big with 66% of millennial men calling themselves a ”saver” versus 56% of women
· About half (49%) of millennials have begun saving for retirement and the gender differences persist with 54% of men saving and far fewer — 43% — women millennials saving
· Millennials (43%) rate the value of their education as “a great value” and 45% say “somewhat of a value.”
Although millennials are burdened by debt, they are very optimistic about their future with 67% of millennials saying they believe they will be better off than their parents. Seventy (70%) are very to somewhat confident that they will be able to save enough to afford the lifestyle that they hope to have in retirement.
