Each year, Acorns takes a look at how people across the U.S. feel about money, wealth, and the future. This year’s report reveals something powerful: young Americans are navigating financial uncertainty with steady confidence and self-reliance.
The New Financial Reality
Today’s young adults recognize that the systems that previous generations relied on may not be the same ones that carry them forward.
72% of 18–35 year olds believe they’ll need to rely completely on themselves for retirement.
This stems from realistic concerns about traditional safety nets:
- More than half (54%) of Americans ages 18-35 think Social Security may be gone by the time they’re eligible
- 67% don’t believe the U.S. will ever fully pay off its national debt
Top financial concerns vary by generation. 39% of Gen Z mention a lack of savings, while 35% of Millennials say debt is their primary concern.
Turning Anxiety into Action
Given these possible realities, young Americans are leaning into self reliance, and small, consistent actions—not quick wins —to fuel their financial futures.
Even with a challenging economy, they remain confident in achieving key milestones.
- Two-thirds of Americans ages 18–35 believe they’ll own a home someday
- 65% believe they’ll be retired by age 70
Parents are Breaking the Money Taboo
When it comes to the next generation, families are planning ahead. Parents are focusing on education and openness to help their kids grow financial confidence.
- 95% of parents have already talked about money with their kids, but 62% of them say they don’t feel confident doing so
- 87% of parents with kids ages 6–13 feel optimistic about their financial futures
- 38% of parents believe ages 5–8 are the best time to start money lessons, validating the Acorns Early mission of providing an easy way for kids to learn money skills.
What can this tell us?
- Parents are pushing past discomfort to build financial literacy at home
- Parents realize that they don’t have to be experts to give their kids a head start
- There is a demand for accessible educational tools, like the Money Missions built into Acorns Early
How Acorns Customers are Leading the Way to Financial Wellness
Acorns customers are turning financial optimism into everyday action, according to the Money Matters Report. Thanks to tools like Round-Ups®, Acorns Later, and Acorns Early Invest, customers feel optimistic about their money goals.
- A little more than a third (37%) of Acorns customers associate investing with hope, compared to 30% of the general population
- 78% of Acorns customers believe they’ll own a home, compared to two-thirds of all young adults
By investing automatically and consistently, our customers are proving that small actions can help you grow.
Your Money Confidence is our Priority
Our vision is to be a financial wellness system for the whole family, creating compound growth at every life stage.
We don’t rely on traditional systems. We lean into empowering our customers with easy, automated tools and education that put the power of wealth-making in everyone’s hands.
- Round-Ups® make it possible to invest spare change
- Acorns Later is an easy way to save for retirement, no matter what you do for a living
- Acorns Early Invest helps you invest for the kids in your life now, because time goes fast
- Earn helps you earn bonus investments when you shop from thousands of top brands
- Grow your knowledge with our Learn hub because knowledge is power
- Banking with Acorns offers a checking account with a debit card that saves and invests for you so you can spend smarter
From acorns mighty oaks do grow. We’ll keep finding ways to make it even easier to grow your oak!
Survey methodology
The research was conducted anonymously by Opinium Research and commissioned by Acorns. This survey was not directed at Acorns customers. Any response collected from a customer was coincidental. The survey was conducted from September 5, 2025 through September 26, 2025, using Opinium Research's nationally representative online research panel. The sample population consisted of 5,000 U.S. consumers ages 18+, comprised of 2,423 males, 2,555 females, 20 nonbinary and 2 preferred not to say.
This research complements the Acorns 2025 Money Matters Market Survey that was conducted by Opinium in September 2025. This research was conducted by Acorns among 2,494 Acorns customers from September 11 - September 16, 2025.
Money Matters from previous years
This material has been presented for informational and educational purposes only. The views expressed in the articles above are generalized and may not be appropriate for all investors. The information contained in this article should not be construed as, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or hold, an interest in any security or investment product. There is no guarantee that past performance will recur or result in a positive outcome. Carefully consider your financial situation, including investment objective, time horizon, risk tolerance, and fees prior to making any investment decisions. No level of diversification or asset allocation can ensure profits or guarantee against losses. Article contributors are not affiliated with Acorns Advisers, LLC. and do not provide investment advice to Acorns’ clients. Acorns is not engaged in rendering tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult a qualified professional for this type of service.
Investment advisory products and services offered by Acorns Advisers, LLC ("Acorns"), an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Brokerage products and services are provided by Acorns Securities, LLC, an SEC registered broker-dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Acorns is not a bank. Banking services issued by Lincoln Savings Bank or nbkc bank, members FDIC. The Acorns Early card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International. For more information, visit www.acorns.com.
Spare change invested with Round-Ups® is transferred from your linked funding source (checking account) to your Acorns Invest account when activated. Round-Up investments from an external account will be processed when your Pending Round-Ups reach or exceed $5.
Acorns Later is an Individual retirement account consisting of a Traditional, ROTH or a SEP IRA selected for customers based on investor profile questionnaire answers.
For informational purposes only. This is solely intended to provide notification of an available product or service. This is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold, or roll over any asset, adopt an investment strategy, or use a particular account type. This information does not consider the specific investment objectives, tax and financial conditions or particular needs of any specific person. Investors should discuss their specific situation with their financial professional.
Acorns Early Invest is a custodial UGMA/UTMA account. Assets in a custodial account are the property of the minor. Each Early Invest account identifies a beneficiary who will have complete control over the Custodial Assets when he or she reaches the default age of transfer determined by the beneficiary’s state of residence or on reaching the age of transfer as elected by you, although such elected age must be at least eighteen (18) years old.
Automatic investing does not ensure a profit or protect against losses. It involves continuous investing regardless of fluctuating price levels.
Acorns receives compensation from business partners to promote or refer customers to such partners for the purchase of non-investment consumer products or services. This type of promotional partnership incentivizes Acorns to refer customers to these businesses instead of businesses that are not partners of Acorns. This affects the ability of Acorns to provide unbiased promotions and could mean that the products and/or services of other businesses, that do not compensate Acorns, may be more appropriate for a customer than the products and/or services promoted by Acorns. Customers are not required to purchase any products and services Acorns promotes.
‘Save and Invest’ refers to a customer’s ability to utilize the Acorns Roundups® investment feature to seamlessly invest small amounts of money from purchases using an Acorns investment account.
