SAN DIEGO (April 15, 2025) – Seismic, the global leader in AI-powered enablement, today released new research revealing a stark generational divide in financial confidence, investment knowledge, and preparedness for inheritance. Baby Boomers are poised to pass down an estimated $84 trillion to younger generations by 2045, but the data suggests younger generations aren’t equipped to handle it just yet. 

Informed by a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, the new research from Seismic reveals that two-thirds of Gen Z adults are not confident in their understanding of personal finance. Gen Z is expected to be the largest and wealthiest generation in the next decade, but their low financial confidence may lead to a lack of preparedness for managing inherited wealth, creating an environment for overspending, poor investment decisions, and long-term financial instability. 

“The Great Wealth Transfer is already underway and represents a pivotal opportunity for financial advisors to build trust with the next generation of clients,” said Kerry Ryan, CPWA®, Senior Director, Financial Services Industry Strategy & Marketing, Seismic. “As this shift accelerates, capitalizing on it requires more than business as usual. Advisors must recognize gaps in financial literacy and preparedness, and meet younger investors with education, empathy, and a fresh approach. With stronger financial confidence, both those passing down wealth and those inheriting it can work toward long-term security and stability.” 

Seismic’s research uncovers core themes around Gen Z’s lack of preparedness for receiving an inheritance as part of the Great Wealth Transfer. Key findings include: 

  • Gen Z are more likely to trust informal sources for financial learning and less likely to turn to professionals for guidance – While more than half of Baby Boomers (56%) turn to financial advisors for guidance, a significant portion of Gen Z (61%) say they are more likely to rely on family and friends.  
  • Informal learning paths may contribute to gaps in financial preparedness and potential mismanagement of inherited wealth – Only 35% of Gen Z has worked with a financial advisor and just 29% have a detailed plan for managing or passing down inheritance. 
  • Boomers and Gen Z agree, young generations are not ready – Of the generations set to pass down their wealth, more than 2 in 5 Baby Boomers (42%) and Gen X (45%) do not believe that younger generations are at all prepared to handle inherited wealth responsibly, aligning to how Gen Z views themselves with only 26% feeling well-prepared for any major financial changes.  

Wealth managers and financial advisors must act now to prepare for the incoming generation of clients, as the digital-native younger generations set to benefit from the Great Wealth Transfer have different expectations than the mature clientele many financial services firms currently serve. With many digital-first challengers entering the market, legacy firms must evolve how they educate, communicate, and build trust with younger clients. Key strategies to improve the readiness of firms and advisors include: 

  • Upskilling client-facing teams with AI-powered tools 
  • Investing in modern client-facing and advisor-facing technology 
  • Producing relevant, personalized content that resonates with younger investors 
  • Meeting younger clients where they are, including on social media platforms, with timely and compliant financial education 

Learn more about how Seismic works with 400+ financial services firms by visiting our website. 

About the Study
Seismic commissioned a consumer survey conducted by Dynata, targeting 1,000 adults across the United States, age 18+, during March 2025. 

About Seismic 
Seismic is the global leader in AI-powered enablement, empowering go-to-market leaders to drive strategic growth and deliver exceptional customer experiences at scale. The Seismic Enablement Cloud™ is the only unified AI-powered platform that prepares customer-facing teams with the skills, content, tools, and insights needed to maximize every buyer interaction and strengthen client relationships. Trusted by more than 2,000 organizations worldwide, Seismic helps businesses achieve measurable outcomes and accelerate revenue growth. Seismic is headquartered in San Diego with offices across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Learn more at seismic.com. 

 

Media Contact  
Natalie Beaulieu 
[email protected]