Second Annual Financial Readiness Survey Finds Teens Still Unprepared

By: PRLog

August 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM EDT

Despite Parents' Best Intentions, Key Financial Conversations Remain off the Table and Confidence in Teen Readiness Has Dropped Year Over Year

NEW YORK - Aug. 21, 2025 - PRLog -- As another school year begins, a new national study reveals that teens across America are entering adulthood without the financial skills they need and not much has changed in the last year. According to the 2025 Teen Financial Readiness Report, the second annual survey commissioned by Jazmarc Services and conducted by Wired Research, only 8% of parents feel their teens are extremely prepared to manage money in the real world, a 10-point drop from 2024.

The survey, conducted among 1,000 U.S. parents of teens ages 14–18, uncovers a growing gap between what parents believe is important and what they're actually discussing at home about money management.

Parents Want to Set Their Teens Up for Success, but Doubts Remain

For the second year in a row:

98% of parents feel responsible for teaching their teens how to manage money.
97% believe teaching their kids about managing their finances is one of the greatest gifts they can give their child.

Yet confidence in teens' financial knowledge is slipping:

70% of parents aren't extremely confident that their teens understand personal finances (same as 2024).
63% aren't convinced their teens will make smart financial decisions (up from 61%).
Only 8% feel their teens are extremely prepared for adulthood financially, down from 18% last year.

Financial Literacy Isn't Just Important, It's Urgent

Just like last year, many parents haven't discussed essential financial topics:

83% haven't talked to their teens about selecting insurance to protect their financial future (similar to 81% in 2024).
76% haven't discussed filing tax returns.
67% haven't talked about investing money.
62% haven't addressed financially planning for unexpected life events.

Even core basics are often left unsaid:

49% haven't discussed budgeting (up from 47% in 2024).
47% haven't covered managing bank accounts.
46% haven't talked about avoiding debt.

"This year's data shows striking consistency with last year and that's part of the problem," says Danielle Sherman, founder and CEO of Wired Research. "Parents believe these conversations matter, yet year after year, many just aren't having them."

Josh Marcus, founder of Jazmarc Services, agrees. "Financial literacy can't stop at saving. Teens need to know how to plan, protect, and prepare. We hope this research is a reminder that even small conversations can spark lifelong confidence."

For more information about the research or to download a copy of the report, visit us at https://jazmarcllc.com/2025-teen-readiness . Alternatively, reach out to Wired Research at info@wiredresearch.com.

Contact
Danielle Sherman
Wired Research
***@wiredresearch.com

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