Why millennials got a raw deal
Millennials have had a number of economic factors working against them over the years.
During the Great Recession, which lasted from 2007 to 2009, millennials — many of whom were in their 20s at the time — were impacted by high levels of unemployment, making it harder to not only build careers, but set aside savings and keep up with student loan payments.
With student debt, millennials weren’t helped by the fact that college costs rose exponentially in the years leading up to their postsecondary education.
The Education Data Initiative reports that the average annual cost of a public four-year institution was $514 in 1973-1974, when many boomers were in attendance.
However, by the 2003-2004 academic year, when many millennials attended, that cost had increased to $4,587. This left millennials with high levels of student debt, a struggling economy, and a slow economic recovery that would ultimately last years.
In October 2009, the national unemployment rate reached 10%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Three years later, though, it was still at 7.8%. By contrast, boomers who entered the workforce in January 1970 enjoyed an unemployment rate of only 3.9%, according to the Federal Reserve.
Following the Great Recession, millennials found themselves trapped in a low interest rate environment.
Not only did the Federal Reserve's benchmark interest rate fall to record lows during that crisis, but it remained stagnant for more than five years afterward, making it harder for millennials to grow their savings.
Interest rates were far more conducive to savings during the 1970s, allowing boomers to build up cash reserves, data from the Federal Reserve shows.
Although the pandemic impacted people of all ages, millennials had been slowly digging themselves out of debt and furthering their careers when they once again found themselves plagued by rampant unemployment and sky-high inflation.
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Read MoreHow millennials can get ahead
It’s not all doom and gloom for millennials. The good news is that, at this point, they’re likely further along in their careers, giving them an opportunity to boost their earnings and savings.
Even the eldest millennials today may still have another 20-25 years in the workforce, giving them an opportunity to ramp up IRA or 401(k) contributions and invest their money so they’re able to accumulate robust nest eggs in time for retirement.
Personal finance celebrity Suze Orman said there’s one simple way younger generations can grow their wealth.
“Their priority is their youth, their priority is time,” Orman told Moneywise last year. “If there's anything the younger generation needs to understand, it’s that the key ingredient to any financial freedom recipe is compounding.”
For example, if you start saving $100 every month at the age of 35 — with a 12% annual average rate of return — you’d have $300,000 by the age of 65, Orman explained.
While this far below the estimated $1.46 million Americans need saved in order to retire comfortably, according to Northwestern Mutual, it’s still a significant chunk of money that can help millennials make up lost time during the times of financial crises they’ve lived through.
Another way American millennials can make up for lost time is through real estate. This powerful tool can be used whether you’re a homeowner or choose to invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs).
The latter is a popular investment tool that acts as an alternative to buying real estate directly. It’s beginner-friendly because it’s possible to invest in REITs with small amounts of money.
While millennials have had a tough economic run, their situation isn’t entirely hopeless. If economic conditions can turn around in their favor, they have a prime opportunity to make the most of their next couple decades in the workforce.
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