Contrary to recent surveys that have found millennials to be as conservative if not more so than their grandparents, research released March by the FINRA Foundation found risk-taking falling with age, with 18- to 34-year-olds the biggest risk takers and the silent generation the most conservative.
Although millennials were the biggest risk takers compared with other generations, the overall willingness to take on risk was still fairly low at just 25% of millennials, according to the issue brief.
The issue brief uses data from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation's National Financial Capability Study, which was conducted in 2012. More than 25,500 adults were surveyed, of whom about 27% were age 18 to 34.
Millennials are the least likely to plan ahead, according to the issue brief. Compared with other generations, they were less likely to save for retirement (40%) or to have savings in a "rainy day fund" (33%). The brief acknowledged that given their age and their lower household income — 65% have an annual income less than $50,000 — that isn't very surprising; however, there are several other indications that millennials need help financially.
Almost a quarter of millennial respondents said they spend more than their income, and 31% have unpaid medical bills. Almost two-thirds have a credit card, and of those, more than a third have engaged in at least three "costly credit card behaviors" over a 12-month period, such as paying only the minimum, incurring late fees or taking cash advances.
