Spectrem Group

Student Loans for Generation Z

College costs and student loans have been a highly debated topic in the past several years, with the conversation becoming heightened in the past few months. In late April 2022 there has been talk of forgiving up to $10,000 of student loan debt through executive order. This has been met with both praise and criticism. The newest generation facing the cost of higher education has some specific opinions about the concept of the government paying off student loans.

The Permanence of the Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has been around for over two years, wreaking havoc in many areas of life. This pandemic, masking, and shutdowns have been challenging for everyone, regardless of what personal beliefs one has regarding the topic. Some areas of the country have handled the situation very cautiously, while others began operating close to normally quite some time ago. Some individuals feel that we need to move on and get back to normal, leaving Covid-19 and the pandemic in our rear-view mirror, while others feel that the pandemic will be an ongoing issue for many years.

How Generation Z Makes Career Decisions

Generation Z currently makes up about 20 percent of the U.S. population, with ages that range from 9 years old to 25-26 years old. These individuals are entering the workforce and changing the landscape of what is expected from employers. Generation Z investors have different priorities and are making their career decisions differently than generations before them.

Is Wealth Management Too Expensive for Investors?

One of the reasons many investors never find an advisor or seek wealth management is because they believe that wealth management is too expensive for the services they need. In fact, according to research conducted by Spectrem Group with investors with $100,000 to $25 million of net worth (not including the value of their primary residence), a quarter of investors believe that wealth management is too expensive. Forty percent of investors are somewhat neutral regarding this idea, and just over a third of investors are open to engaging in wealth management.

Is Fighting Rising Fuel Costs Futile?

Investors everywhere are feeling the pain of rising gasoline costs. Seemingly every day the prices at the pump are changing dramatically, giving investors whiplash at how quickly prices are adjusting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, gasoline prices rose 38 percent from February 2021 to February 2022. Investors all over the country are talking about rising costs of gasoline, and everyone has a different strategy they feel the country should take regarding this topic.

Facebook Loses The Top Spot

For many years Facebook has been the most commonly used social media platform among investors. Various social media platforms have come and gone, with only a few having as much staying power as Facebook. New platforms are introduced regularly, and some have started gaining traction, especially among younger investors.

Wealthy Women and Investing

It is no secret that men and women think differently. There is an entire industry dedicated to helping understand how these differences impact decision-making, relationships, and daily life. It is not surprising that men and women approach their financial lives and their investments differently as well. Understanding these differences can help many couples navigate conflicting attitudes towards their financial lives.

War in Ukraine Hits Home

The conflict in Ukraine has been going on since mid-February and does not show any signs of stopping in the near future. Individuals across the globe are concerned at varying levels regarding this conflict, and the potential further issues this can cause. There is access to information and news regarding this conflict on every platform: television, online, social media, and print.

Rising Gasoline Prices Fueling Investor Concerns

It is impossible to not be aware of the significant increases in fuel prices in the United States. Some areas of the country have been more impacted than others regarding the rising cost of fuel, but the increase is felt everywhere. According to AAA the cost for gasoline has increased 40 percent in 2022, making it an issue that wealthy investors must address in their lives. Investors also feel that certain things should happen to mitigate the rising cost of fuel.

Is the Pandemic Still a Problem?

Covid-19 impacted the lives of individuals across the globe. Regardless of which side of the debate you were on regarding masking and vaccinations, there has been a significant change in many areas of individual’s lives throughout the pandemic and ongoing. Initially it was thought that these changes would be temporary, and that life would be able to go back to “normal”. In some cases that was true, with mask mandates largely an issue of the past in most areas of the country. How do wealthy investors feel about the pandemic now, and are there issues regarding the pandemic that continue to impact their decision-making?

Inflation Tops Concerns for Investors

The United States has experienced more than 20 years of low inflation levels, with the highest rate being just over five percent in 1990. Baby Boomers and WWII investors remember this time, as well as the double-digit interest rates. Inflation is currently over eight percent, raising concerns for investors of all ages. While investors are worried about rising costs, are they doing anything about it?

Are Investors Crazy for Crypto?

Cryptocurrencies have been gaining popularity for over a decade, with the current size of the cryptocurrency market being over 1.5 billion dollars. This investment option has been most closely followed by younger investors, who are often the first to adapt to new technology, products, or investment options. Despite how large the cryptocurrency industry is, are wealthy individuals investing in crypto, or are they even familiar with this investment option?

Articles for Investors