Alex Kleyner on the Hidden Generational Divide: How Debt Is Reshaping Family Dynamics in America

September 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM EDT

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 30, 2025 / Six in ten parents in the United States report going into debt to support their children, according to a National Debt Relief survey. This striking figure reveals how deeply financial obligations are reshaping the way American families interact, make decisions, and plan for their futures. What once might have been occasional financial help has evolved into a complex web of intergenerational support that touches more than half of American households.

The traditional model of wealth flowing from older to younger generations is being replaced by something more circular. Parents are delaying retirement to help adult children with student loans or down payments. Grandparents co-sign loans and dip into savings. Meanwhile, many working adults find themselves caught between paying down their own debt and supporting aging parents with medical expenses or daily needs.

"When we talk about debt, we're really talking about the way families navigate love, responsibility, and sacrifice," observes Alex Kleyner, CEO and Co-Founder of National Debt Relief with close ties to Miami. "It's never just dollars and cents. It's relationships."

Despite the prevalence of debt in family life, it remains largely unspoken of in many households. Important decisions about education, housing, and healthcare often hinge on financial realities that families struggle to discuss openly. This silence can amplify stress and create misunderstandings between generations who may have vastly different perspectives on money and obligations.

"The generational wealth gap compounds these challenges," notes Alex Kleyner.

According to SmartAsset, drawing on Federal Reserve data, Baby Boomers hold 50% of U.S. wealth, while Gen Z holds just 4%. Yet, debt burdens remain significant across all age groups. Experian reports that as of 2023, Gen Z carries an average of $15,000 in non-mortgage debt, Millennials $28,000, and Gen X $31,000. For nearly 40% of adults, this financial strain has directly impacted family relationships, according to the APA's Stress in America report.

These household dynamics have broader implications for the economy. When families redirect resources to manage debt, it affects everything from homeownership rates to retirement security to consumer spending patterns. The choices individual families make about debt create ripple effects that shape markets and policy discussions.

"Debt, in this sense, is not a purely personal issue," notes Alex Kleyner. "It's a societal one, shaping everything from consumer behavior to long-term patterns of wealth transfer."

As American families continue to navigate these financial pressures, the path forward likely requires both practical solutions and cultural shifts. Opening conversations about money within families, seeking professional guidance when needed, and recognizing that these challenges are widely shared can help reduce the isolation many feel when facing debt.

"The hidden generational divide created by debt may not close overnight," says Alex Kleyner, "but acknowledging its existence is an essential first step toward finding sustainable solutions that work for families across all life stages." For many, this begins with openly discussing debt, net worth, and long-term financial planning as interconnected parts of the same story.

Contact:

Andrew Mitchell
media@cambridgeglobal.com

SOURCE: National Debt Relief

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Alex Kleyner on the Hidden Generational Divide: How Debt Is Reshaping Family Dynamics in America

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