Overview
- A 2026 Northwestern Mutual survey found 42% of U.S. adults receive money from their parents, with 72% of Gen Z and 53% of Millennials reporting parental support.
- The Federal Reserve’s financial-wellbeing survey shows a multi-year rise in outside help, from about 10% in 2017 to roughly 23% in 2025.
- Data cited from the Urban Institute point to large cost increases over the last decade, with average U.S. rent up about 50% and health and childcare costs up about 40%, while median weekly earnings lagged behind.
- Surveys show mounting insecurity: one in five adults in the Northwestern Mutual study do not expect to become financially independent and an Edward Jones report found only 16% of Americans feel financially fulfilled.
- Experts warn the trend can strain retirees’ savings and is not a guaranteed safety net, creating pressure on financial advisers to balance family support with parents’ long-term security.