BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Says His Generation Faced Worse Inflation—But Today's Young People Are Smarter: 'I Am Bullish On These Young People'

Retirement. It's the thing nobody wants to think about until they have to—and by then, it's usually too late. Ask anyone over 50, and they'll tell you they wish they had started saving earlier. In fact, 70% of people say exactly that, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. But what happens when an entire generation feels like they can't start saving at all?

Enter BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. Sitting down with CNBC's Jim Cramer last year, Fink didn't hold back on the hard truths: "We had much larger inflation." Yet despite that, he's bullish on young people. "They are smarter than we were at their age."

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But being smart doesn't mean feeling secure. Young people today are staring down student loans, skyrocketing costs of living, and a deep distrust in institutions that were once seen as pillars of stability. Cramer summed up the mood: "They feel disconnected… they have no bootstraps." And perhaps most concerning? "They lost their trust in our country."

Fink agrees—trust is a major issue. "I don't think the younger generation knows where and who to listen to," he said, pointing out that short-form social media has replaced deep, long-form analysis. And when it comes to financial literacy? Many don't know where to start. "They don't know how to invest. They are scared to invest."

Yet despite all this, Fink sees opportunity. He believes young people have a global awareness that previous generations didn't. They've weathered economic turmoil before hitting 30, and many are more financially savvy than they realize. The challenge? Breaking through the fear, rebuilding trust, and making financial security feel achievable again.

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Optimism is one thing, but cold, hard data is another. The numbers from the Federal Reserve's Economic Well-Being Of U.S. Household's study paint a mixed picture. While 43% of 18- to 29-year-olds have tax-preferred retirement accounts like a 401(k) or IRA, only 26% feel like they're on track. That number rises with age—75% of those 60 and above have retirement savings, but even then, less than half (45%) feel confident about their plans.

Younger generations are navigating economic uncertainty, yes—but they're also adapting, learning, and questioning a system that wasn't built for them. 

TikTok can tell you how to air fry a steak, but should it be your go-to for wealth-building advice? Probably not. Even the smartest, most financially savvy people—yes, even the ones Fink is bullish on—benefit from expert guidance. Whether you're 25 or 85, a financial advisor can help cut through the noise, build a strategy, and keep you from making costly mistakes. Because when it comes to securing your future, winging it isn't a plan—it's a risk.

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