Gen Z is investing earlier than ever

Americans in their teens and 20s are increasingly ditching the avocado toast beloved by previous generations, and putting their money to work in the stock market.

By the numbers

The share of Americans aged 25-39 who make annual transfers to investment accounts more than tripled between 2013 and 2023 to reach 14.4%, outpacing increases among older Americans, per data from JPMorgan Chase Institute.

• Meanwhile, the share of 26-year-olds who moved money into investment accounts after age 22 rose from 8% to 40% between 2015 and 2025 (excluding 401(k)s).
• And a World Economic Forum survey shows ~30% of Gen Z say they started investing before entering the workforce, compared to just 6% of Baby Boomers.

Young folks are also taking bigger swings. Crypto and alternative assets play an outsized role in this age group, with 71% of Gen Z investors holding more than a third of their portfolio in crypto.

Analysts say younger Americans consistently report feeling less confidence in traditional career paths and financial safety nets, pushing them toward higher-risk, higher-upside bets outside of a normal 9-to-5.

Housing also plays a major role. Many Gen Zers have found themselves priced out of homeownership early in their adult lives, with the share of homebuyers in America who are aged 18-39 falling from 51% in 1999 to 44% as of last year.

As a result, more younger Americans find themselves investing money that otherwise would have gone towards a down payment or mortgage.