People across the financial spectrum want to strengthen their knowledge, but their areas of interest reflect where they are today. Those who report having a high level of overall financial knowledge – advanced (28%) or expert (10%) – are interested in learning about more complex topics like tax planning, investing, and cryptocurrency.
Those who rank themselves as novice (21%) or intermediate (41%) prioritize foundational skills such as managing debt, building emergency savings, and budgeting. Across all groups, however, there is a shared interest in learning more about retirement planning and planning for long-term care needs.
Top learning priorities by level of financial knowledge
| Novice / Intermediate | Advanced / Expert | ||
| Managing debt | 37% | Tax planning | 33% |
| Retirement | 31% | Long-term care | 33% |
| Emergency savings | 31% | Investing (stocks/mutual funds) | 33% |
| Creating a budget | 30% | Retirement | 28% |
| Long-term care | 28% | Cryptocurrency | 24% |
The main barriers to improving financial capability are debt (30%), insufficient income (29%), and money anxiety (28%). These challenges highlight the need for strong fundamentals.
Over half of respondents – across all generations – believe budgeting and managing debt are the most important skills for financial success. Their priorities reflect this, as many plan to increase their savings (38%), reduce debt (35%), and create a budget (28%) in the next year.
Younger Americans stand out in their use of digital channels to better their finances. Over half of Gen Z (52%) uses social media to improve their financial capabilities, compared to one-third of millennials (34%), one in four Gen Xers (23%), and only 7% of baby boomers.
A quarter of Gen Z also turn to AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot. Only one in five, however, work with a financial professional – highlighting a clear opportunity to improve their financial skills by introducing them to professionals who can help them navigate and evaluate the information they’re getting online.
The learning resources most consistently used across all generations are personal connections, such as family, friends, or colleagues, ranging from 31% of baby boomers to 38% of Gen Z. Use of banks and financial institutions is also fairly consistent, ranging from 20% (Gen Z) to 25% (millennial).
Where people turn to learn about money matters
Where people turn to learn about money matters
Only two in five people are very or extremely confident in their ability to do the following: (1) Find reliable financial information when they need it (42%); (2) Process financial information to make decisions (39%); and (3) Execute decisions and adapt stay on track (40%).
There is a clear separation, however, for those who work with a financial professional – they are much more likely to be confident in all three areas than those who don’t work with a financial professional:
- Finding reliable information when needed: 59% compared to 35%
- Processing information to make a financial decision: 55% compared to 33%
- Executing decisions and adapting as needed: 57% compared to 32%
Gen Z is the most confident when it comes to executing decisions and adapting as needed (42%), while Gen X stands out as the least confident at only 34%.
Gen X’s low confidence is a pattern consistent with other Corebridge research. Often balancing peak career demands, family responsibilities, and longer-term financial planning, Gen X may feel the weight of complexity most acutely, reinforcing the value of trusted guidance during this pivotal life stage.
Retirement is the leading trigger that pushes people to take financial planning seriously. Nearly four in ten respondents (38%) say it’s the primary reason they step up their planning efforts — a figure that rises to 45% among Gen Xers and 47% among baby boomers. Younger generations are motivated by more immediate milestones: Gen Z is most influenced by earning a paycheck (31%) and buying a home (26%).
This motivation can translate into action at work. For many, employers are how retirement planning first becomes tangible. Nearly four in ten respondents say they would use online planning tools and seek professional advice if those resources were available through their workplace — highlighting the role employers play in turning intent into engagement.
As planning becomes more concrete, people can build strong savings habits earlier. Almost 40% of respondents say they started saving for retirement in their late teens or twenties, including 15% of Gen Zers who began before age 20.
Employers play a critical role in strengthening employees’ financial capabilities, often at the moment when people are most motivated to act. Here are several steps that can help:
- Reinforce the importance of saving early. Even small contributions can compound significantly over time.
- Offer education across key money and planning topics. Employees need support not just for retirement, but for competing priorities and goals along the way.
- Increase awareness of available resources. Many employees don’t know what tools, guidance, or support already exist—or how to access them.
- Facilitate access to financial professionals. Trusted advice can boost confidence, improve decision-making, and reduce financial stress.
- Support ongoing learning. Financial needs evolve over time and educational programs should evolve with them.
- Work with plan providers to turn access into action. Strong partnerships can help employers deliver the tools, services, and guidance employees need – when motivation is highest.
By offering a range of resources, education, and guidance, employers can make sure their employees have the skills and support to make confident decisions at every stage of life.
*The 2025 Corebridge Financial Capabilities Survey was conducted online by Morning Consult between February 3 and February 5, 2026, among a national sample of 2,213 adults.
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