Gen Z boosts financial confidence in Australia and opens salary talks in the US

A new MLC Real Retirement Report shows that 45 % of Gen Z Australians feel confident about their financial knowledge and are planning retirement earlier than previous generations. Young Australians are switching super funds, salary‑sacrificing and seeking advice, although only 30 % have started saving for retirement.

In the United States, Gen Z is breaking a long‑standing taboo by publicly sharing salaries, budgets and spending habits online. Wall Street Journal commentator Mary Julia Koch says the trend “gets the conversation started” and could help younger people take more ownership of their finances amid high living costs and labour‑market uncertainty.