The nation's youngest adults are taking significant steps to improve their financial wellbeing with the goal of retiring at age 59 – years ahead of the generations that preceded them.

New data from Northwestern Mutual's 2022 Planning & Progress Study revealed that Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 – known as Gen Z – were the most likely to build savings during the pandemic and begin working with an advisor. The study also showed that these young adults were more confident about their careers and in their ability to achieve financial security.

That confidence comes with caveats, however. Gen Z adults were also the most inclined to say their financial planning needs improvement. They also struggle more with mental health than any other age group.

Gen Z's Instinct to Plan

According to Northwestern Mutual's research, Gen Z – more than any other generation – improved their financial habits during the pandemic. Seven in 10 (70%) adults from the age group reported higher savings over that time period. They were also more likely to seek professional financial help, with nearly three in 10 (29%) saying they did not have an advisor before the pandemic but have either started working with one or plan to moving forward. Despite that, close to 75% of Gen Z adults said their financial planning needs improvement.

"It's encouraging to see the youngest generation of adults showing an inclination to plan and holding themselves to a high bar," said Christian Mitchell, executive vice president and chief customer officer at Northwestern Mutual. "Developing a plan isn't just the first step toward achieving your long-germ goals, it's also what allows you to enjoy your life more along the way. With greater clarity around how to balance spending and saving, you're able to live more in the moment and still have confidence in the future."

Confident but Struggle with Mental Health

Gen Z had the highest levels of confidence in their careers and in their ability to achieve financial security. The research also showed that they plan to retire younger than any other generation – before the age of 60 and a full 12 years earlier than Boomers+.