Women are contributing more to their family’s finances, but it is the younger generation that is increasingly claiming the title of breadwinner, according to a new Wells Fargo study.
The study, released in conjunction with International Women’s Day, included 2,195 women. It found that more than half (54%) of all partnered women reported having earnings greater or equal to their spouse’s. And nearly one-third (32%) of millennial and Gen X women reported being the primary breadwinners, in contrast to the 20% rate reported by baby boomers and traditionalists (those born between 1928 and 1945).
Half of millennial and Gen X women (51%) also indicated they lead their household finances, compared with only 40% of women among boomers and traditionalists.
Despite the gains in financial contributions to their households, the study found that 39% of millennial and Gen X women are intimidated by financial concepts and 34% did not learn enough about finances while growing up. As a result, many of them are prioritizing the financial education of the next generation, with 77% of Gen X women indicating they take charge when it comes to the financial education of their children.
The study also found that 21% of millennial and Gen X women said they are too busy to devote time to building financial skills, compared with only 6% of baby boomer and traditionalist women.
But younger women are open and eager to learn and grow. Nearly half of millennial and Gen X women (47%) reported needing financial advice now more than ever, and three-quarters believe it would be valuable to talk with a financial advisor, a view shared among the older generations.
And more so than older generations, millennials and Gen Xers are interested in talking to an advisor not just about the numbers but about work (78%), family (71%) and health (60%).
The study also noted that 68% of millennial and Gen X women said they get extremely anxious when there is a lot of uncertainty, compared with 49% of women among baby boomers and traditionalists. And almost a third of millennial and Gen X women indicated that financial uncertainty has kept them up at night.
Nancy Amick, senior family dynamics consultant with the Advice Center within Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management, posits that the financial anxiety felt by the younger generation during times of economic uncertainty is likely a direct reflection of their relative inexperience getting through financial hardship.
“Prior generations have the benefit of past experience,” she said in a statement. “Many of these women have weathered turbulent markets and uncertain economic environments.”
The online national survey was conducted January 4 through January 18 by Versta Research. It included a total of 2,195 women: 1,680 have household assets of $250,000 or more; the other 515 are ages 25 to 40 and have a household income of at least $100,000. The survey also included a comparison group of 1,035 men, plus a comparison group of 1,084 Americans in households with less in assets and income.