Everyone assumes Gen Z is bad with money. The data tells a completely different story.
If you believed everything the media has told you about Gen Z and money, you'd picture a generation blowing paychecks on avocado toast, streaming entertainment subscriptions, drowning in credit card debt, and giving up entirely on the idea of retirement. The financial nihilism narrative has been loud.
However, the data tells a completely different story.
Gen Z is, by nearly every measurable standard, the most retirement-savvy generation the United States has ever produced. They are opening retirement accounts earlier, saving at higher rates, and building wealth more intentionally than Baby Boomers and Gen X ever did at the same age. And they are doing it in one of the most economically challenging environments in modern history.
The average Gen Z worker starts saving for retirement at age 22, according to Northwestern Mutual's 2024 Planning and Progress Study. That is 15 years earlier than the average Baby Boomer, who started saving at 37. Gen X started at 31. Millennials at 27.
Gen Z households with defined contribution plans have nearly three times more assets in their retirement accounts, adjusted for inflation, than Gen X households did at the same age.
About 47% of Gen Z employees ages 24 to 28 are already saving enough to maintain their current lifestyle through retirement, according to Vanguard — making them the generation most likely to retire successfully.
70% of Gen Z workers have a strategy to safeguard their savings before retirement, compared to 55% of Gen X and just 44% of Baby Boomers.
These are not the habits of a generation that has given up.
The 19th-century German statesman Otto von Bismarck famously said: "Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others."
Gen Z is the first generation with a front-row seat to witness the retirement crisis of those who came before them. They grew up watching Baby Boomers pushed back into the workforce at 65, 70, and beyond because their savings ran dry. They watched Gen X navigate the collapse of pension plans and scramble to make defined contribution accounts work in time. They saw what happens when you wait.
These observations produced something rare: wisdom without personal suffering. Unlike other generations, Gen Z did not need to experience retirement insecurity firsthand to understand its consequences. They observed it, internalized it, and reacted accordingly. As a result, they have acted earlier, smarter, and with more discipline than any prior generation managed.
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev recently noted on the Bankless podcast that Gen Z's investment behavior challenges the entire narrative. "Gen Z are the most retirement savvy and long-term investment savvy generation we've ever had," he said, adding that the average age of opening a retirement account has dropped dramatically compared to prior generations.
Here is where the story gets complicated.
Gen Z is doing everything right with the traditional tools available to them: 401(k)s, Roth IRAs, index funds. They are contributing earlier and more consistently than any generation before them. But traditional retirement vehicles available to the public, as powerful as they are, have one major blind spot.
Real estate.
Historically, real estate has been one of the most reliable wealth-building assets in existence. Home ownership built the middle class. Rental income funded retirements. Property appreciation compounded quietly for decades. The problem is that real estate, as traditionally structured, requires capital that most Gen Z investors simply do not have. A down payment on an investment property is easily tens of thousands of dollars. A rental portfolio requires even more up-front costs. For a generation already managing student debt, rising rent, and record-high home prices, the traditional path into real estate has been closed.
This is the gap. While Gen Z is investing intelligently with the tools available to them, they are also missing access to one of the most powerful asset classes in history.
Realbricks is an online platform built from the ground up to close that gap.
With Realbricks, you can invest in tangible, income-producing residential properties starting at $100. No mortgage. No landlord responsibilities. No six-figure down payment. These are debt-free properties, meaning no financing risk, just direct exposure to rental income and property appreciation, the same way traditional real estate investors have built wealth for generations.
Gen Z has already proven they understand the value of starting early and staying consistent. Fractional real estate gives them the ability to apply that same discipline to an asset class that has historically outperformed almost everything else.
The Bismarck principle cuts both ways. The wise man learns from others' mistakes, yes. But he also learns from others' wins. Every generation before Gen Z that built real, lasting wealth had real estate in the picture.
Now, so can you.
Ready to add real estate to your portfolio?
Disclaimer: Investing in real estate involves risks, including the potential loss of capital. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Investors should perform their own research and consult with financial professionals before making investment decisions.
Be the first to know about property launches, portfolio updates, and announcements by subscribing to our newsletter.
Terra Mint Group, Corp ("Terra Mint"), as the Managing Member of Neptune REM, LLC ("Neptune") operates the RealBricks.com website (the "Site") and is not a broker-dealer or investment advisor. All securities related activity is conducted through Dalmore Group LLC, a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA/SIPC, located at 525 Green Pl. Woodmere, NY 11598. You can review the brokercheck for Dalmore. An up-to-date Dalmore Form CRS is available.
You should speak with your financial advisor, accountant and/or attorney when evaluating any offering. Neither Terra Mint, Neptune, nor Dalmore makes any recommendations or provides advice about investments, and no communication, through this website or in any other medium, should be construed as a recommendation for any security offered on or off this investment platform. The Site may make forward-looking statements. You should not rely on these statements but should carefully evaluate the offering materials in assessing any investment opportunity, including the complete set of risk factors that are provided as part of the offering circular for your consideration.
Neptune is conducting public offerings pursuant to Regulation A, as amended, through the Site. The most current offering circular for Neptune is available here. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments such as those on the Realbricks platform are speculative and involve substantial risks to consider before investing. These risks are outlined in the respective offering materials and including, but not limited to, illiquidity and a complete loss of capital. Key risks include, but are not limited to, limited operating history, reliance on key personnel, inherent risks in investing in real estate, distributions may not be received on predictable schedule and or at all by Investors, and lack of voting rights. Also, the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic remain unknown and could materially impact this investment. An investment in an offering constitutes only an investment in a particular series and not in the underlying asset(s). Investors should carefully review the risks located in the respective offering materials for a more comprehensive discussion of risk.
From time to time, Neptune may undertake "testing the waters" for additional series of securities to be offered pursuant to Regulation A. For offerings that have not yet been qualified, no money or other consideration is being solicited, and if sent in response, will not be accepted.
NO MONEY OR OTHER CONSIDERATION IS BEING SOLICITED, AND IF SENT IN RESPONSE, WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
NO OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES CAN BE ACCEPTED AND NO PART OF THE PURCHASE PRICE CAN BE RECEIVED UNTIL THE OFFERING STATEMENT FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC HAS BEEN QUALIFIED BY THE SEC. ANY SUCH OFFER MAY BE WITHDRAWN OR REVOKED, WITHOUT OBLIGATION OR COMMITMENT OF ANY KIND, AT ANY TIME BEFORE NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE GIVEN AFTER THE DATE OF QUALIFICATION.
AN INDICATION OF INTEREST INVOLVES NO OBLIGATION OR COMMITMENT OF ANY KIND.
AN OFFERING STATEMENT REGARDING THIS OFFERING HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SEC. YOU MAY OBTAIN A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY OFFERING CIRCULAR THAT IS PART OF THAT OFFERING STATEMENT FROM: Neptune REM, LLC 30 N. Gould St. Suite R Sheridan, WY 82801 OR HERE.
Investment overviews contained herein contain summaries of the purpose and the principal business terms of the investment opportunities. Such summaries are intended for informational purposes only and do not purport to be complete, and each is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more-detailed discussions contained in the respective offering circular filed with the SEC.
Realbricks does not offer refunds after an investment has been made. Please review the relevant offering materials and subscription documentation for more information.
Potential investors should not rely on any forward-looking statements regarding any investment opportunity, which is based on our beliefs and information currently available to us. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “potential,” “design,” “target,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “projection,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “result” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance, which may be affected by known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties, and factors that are beyond our control. These risks could result in the loss of your investment. See the offering materials for detailed information.
Neptune does not have a public trading market for its Series Interests. While it intends to seek a quotation on PPEX, an alternative trading system (ATS) operated by North Capital Investment Technology, Inc. (“PPEX”) with a view to providing our holders of Series Interests with potential liquidity in the form of a secondary market for their investment in our Series Interests. However, there can be no guarantee that a secondary market may develop, or if it does, as to the volume or pricing with respect to any secondary trading that might develop. The PPEX does not employ market makers to provide liquidity, unlike national securities exchanges. Until Neptune’s Series Interests are listed, if ever, you may not sell the company’s Series Interests. Therefore, it may be difficult for you to sell Neptune’s Series Interests at the time you wish to do so, if you are able to sell them at all. If you are able to sell your Series Interests, you may have to sell them at a substantial discount to their public offering price. Because of the illiquid nature of our Series Interests, you should purchase Neptune’s Series Interests only as a long-term investment and be prepared to hold them for an indefinite period of time.
Property information shown has been provided from various sources, which can include the seller and/or public records. It is believed reliable but not guaranteed and should not be relied upon without independent verification.
Disclaimer: Images, Information and Floor Plan and Measurements are approximate and are for illustrative purposes only. We make no guarantee, warranty or representation as to the accuracy and completeness of the floor plans, measurements and or any information provided. You or your advisers should conduct a careful, independent investigation of the property to determine to your satisfaction as to the suitability of the property for your space requirements. All pricing and availability is subject to change. The information is to be used as a point of reference and not a binding agreement.
