Insights in this article are drawn from the “Gen Z & Millennials Wealth Playbook” panel at Juwai IQI International Summit, featuring Sean (iHerng), Ong Yong Xun (JomStudy), and IQI Realty’s Joyce Yeoh & Jayden Ng.
Millennials and Gen Z are reshaping financial behaviour with new attitudes toward wealth, risk, and lifestyle-driven goals.
Their approach blends digital-first opportunities, flexible career paths, and a redefined sense of financial freedom.
Financial freedom is also understood as enjoying work and life concurrently, where loving what you do shapes your mindset about money and investment goals.
However, education and self-awareness are essential to convert opportunities into sustainable wealth.
Key Insights:
- Parental support strongly influences young adults’ confidence, financial safety nets, and early investment choices, especially in property.
- Digital culture opens new income paths, with side hustles and personal branding becoming key to wealth-building.
- Young generations prioritize liquidity and flexibility while still viewing property as their long-term stability anchor.
- Financial freedom is now individualized, driven by lifestyle choices, time autonomy, and self-investment over traditional retirement.
Unpacking the Mindset of Millennials & Gen Z
- 1. The New Generation Driving a Shift in Wealth Mindset
- 2. Real Estate Trends and Buying Behaviour Among Young Adults
- 3. Investment Strategies and Risk Perspectives
- 4. Financial Goals and Definitions of Freedom
- 5. Process Improvements and Engagement Strategies
- 6. Challenges to Wealth Building
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. The New Generation Driving a Shift in Wealth Mindset
Younger generations feel they have “nothing to lose” because many have financial stability from parents who own homes or provide down payments, allowing them to take bold entrepreneurial steps without fear.
This cushion shifts their focus from survival to growth and opportunity, in contrast to older generations who prioritized stable careers and basic needs.
Early exposure to technology and abundant online information empowers Gen Z to start side hustles and build digital skills before investing in property.
Zero Ong, Founder of JomStudy
Digital asset management and liquidity are preferred initially, with property seen as a later, more stable investment.
Gen Z’s comfort with tech shapes entrepreneurial, flexible careers and investment goals that differ from those of older generations, who focus primarily on property as the key wealth asset.
A cultural shift in which personal branding and fast-paced income streams dominate younger generations’ financial goals.
2. Real Estate Trends and Buying Behaviour Among Young Adults
Despite a shift toward digital assets, property remains a core investment with evolving buying patterns shaped by parental support and lifestyle preferences.
Let’s be real, most first homes don’t happen solo. Many receive 30-40% help from parents. We call it a “FaMa Down Payment.”
Joyce Yeoh, IQI Real Estate Agent
Young buyers prioritize lifestyle, convenience, and social factors over traditional homeownership motives.
Convincing parents to accept smaller condos or non-traditional locations is a key sales challenge.
Hence, agents must navigate family dynamics, often needing to persuade parents more than the buyers themselves.
Property might not sound “sexy” compared to stocks or crypto but it’s still the OG of long-term wealth.
iHerng, IQI Real Estate Agent
Yet, affordability concerns often delay purchases among young buyers, risking future rental crises.
Besides, saving for a 10% down payment amid low salaries and rising property prices is the biggest barrier, making a side hustle a necessary precursor to property investment.
In addition, digital skills and online business models offer accessible paths to build initial capital.
This approach aligns with young adults’ preference for liquidity and lower initial commitments. It signals a broader trend toward diversified, incremental wealth-building strategies.
3. Investment Strategies and Risk Perspectives
Young adults show mixed attitudes toward risk, diversification, and investment horizons, shaped by impatience and varying levels of financial literacy. Young investors face risks not from investing but from poor wealth management and misinformation.
Putting all eggs in one basket can work if you deeply understand the asset, particularly property.
Jayden, IQI Real Estate Agent
Investment Strategies
- A focused investment, going “all in” on what you know, can accelerate wealth building faster than diversification.
- Property remains viewed as one of Malaysia’s safest investments, with location emphasized as a crucial factor.
- This strategy challenges conventional diversification advice but aligns with the entrepreneurial mindset of millennials and Gen Z.
- Property’s illiquidity is seen as a strength that drives appreciation and long-term generational wealth.
Risk Perspectives
- Blindly chasing trends like crypto and trading without understanding fundamentals, driven by excitement, increases exposure to losses.
- Managing wealth responsibly by balancing risk and growth is more critical than pursuing fast returns.
- Impatience and susceptibility to scams in fast-paced digital markets remain major concerns.
4. Financial Goals and Definitions of Freedom
Young generations view financial goals and freedom in more fluid and individualized ways, prioritizing lifestyle, time freedom, and personal fulfillment.
| Financial Goals | Definitions of Freedom |
|---|---|
| Achieving FIRE (financial independence, retire early) is a common goal. | Freedom is the ability to do what you want anytime, not just quitting work. |
| Realistic investment goals focus on self-investment and skill-building before major investments. | Retirement is viewed as “resting yourself” while still pursuing meaningful interests. |
| Building value and skills enables higher income and better investment opportunities. | Emphasizes lifestyle choices and passion projects over income cessation. |
| Emergency funds covering six months to a year reduce financial anxiety. | A process, not a fixed endpoint, supporting balance and fulfillment. |
| Compressed success timelines encourage early action within 5 years post-graduation. | Definitions vary depending on lifestyle aspirations, promoting flexible, personalized financial planning. |
5. Process Improvements and Engagement Strategies
Content creation, personal branding, and education are vital tools to engage younger audiences and support their financial journeys.
Authentic Content and Audience Connection
- Successful financial educators focus on authenticity, producing content that informs and inspires rather than chasing viral trends.
- Meaningful engagement builds community trust and long-term influence.
- Millennials and Gen Z value transparency and concise, straightforward communication in financial content.
Adapting to Digital Consumption Habits
- Short-form platforms like TikTok and YouTube have reshaped financial education by favoring quick, high-impact content.
- Educators must balance entertainment with depth, providing useful insights within limited attention spans.
- Effective content strategies integrate creativity with practical advice to sustain engagement.
Financial Education and Parental Influence
- Parents and educators significantly shape financial mindsets. Parental modeling of 9-to-5 mindsets often discourages ambition and risk-taking among youth.
- Exposure to curated social media lifestyles can distort perceptions of wealth, creating unrealistic expectations.
- Expanding accessible, accurate information is key to empowering youth and closing the knowledge gap.
6. Challenges to Wealth Building
Young adults face challenges from income constraints, impatience, misinformation, and shifting economic conditions.
Impatience and desire for quick returns often lead to risky behavior and exposure to scams.
Social media exposure creates unrealistic timelines for wealth and links short attention spans with poor investment discipline.
Income limitations and high property prices make saving for home ownership difficult.
Misinformation adds hidden risks, making critical thinking and due diligence essential. Cultivating a growth mindset from practical financial education can overcome these barriers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What should I invest in first as a beginner, and if I don’t have much money?
Begin with low-cost digital assets, side hustles, or small savings plans to build initial capital.
2. Is property still worth buying for young people?
Yes, property is a long-term stability anchor.
3. How do I avoid scams and bad financial advice online?
Focus on verified sources, learn basic financial literacy, and double-check before investing.
4. How do I balance side hustles with full-time work or studies?
Prioritize time management and pick opportunities that align with your skills and passions.
5. Can I balance enjoying life now while saving for the future?
Yes, financial freedom is about time autonomy and self-investment.
Be part of IQI’s new generation of real estate agents and shape your own path to success — where bold ideas and modern wealth creation meet!
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