Portfolios Reflect Goals and Values
Currently, young investors’ portfolios often incorporate both their goals and values. They are more likely than older cohorts to hold cryptocurrencies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and investment real estate in their portfolios, and they also show strong demand for customized or niche investments not widely available to retail segments, such as private equity, private credit, and sustainability-oriented investments.
Values-based Investing Is Becoming Mainstream
More than 90% of Gen Z and millennial investors surveyed say it is important to align their investment portfolio with their personal values, and 43% express interest in values-based or impact investments. For many, aligning portfolios with environmental or social priorities is not only a unique preference but also an expectation of modern investing.
Decision Making Is Digital, Diverse, and Behavioral
Information sources have diversified. Gen Z and millennials learn about finance through advisers, apps, social media and, increasingly, AI tools. About one-third have already used generative AI for financial education. Yet human advisers remain the most trusted source of guidance. The opportunity lies in meeting these clients where they are — online and mobile-friendly platforms — while helping them navigate and verify the growing flood of digital information.
Behaviorally, young investors display both confidence and vulnerability. “Many admit to making investments driven by fear of missing out (FOMO), especially in trending assets such as crypto.” Overconfidence in their ability to interpret markets is common. Advisers can add the most value by coaching clients through volatility, emphasizing investment discipline, and grounding decisions in long-term goals rather than online momentum.