What Gen Z Gets Right About Investing—And Wrong About Estate Planning

Gen Z is Already Ahead of the Curve. With 73% of us already investing in stocks and 47% holding cryptocurrency, Gen Z isn’t waiting to build wealth — we're already doing it. We're buying Tesla shares on Robinhood, diversifying with VOO and SPY, and stacking crypto on Coinbase. This isn’t just investing, it’s crafting a personalized, modern financial portfolio. We’re crafting the perfect portfolios—but there’s one piece most of us overlook: what happens to all of it if something happens to us? We don’t always think about things like beneficiaries—who actually receives our assets—or what happens if no one can access our accounts. You already have an estate. Let's ditch the traditional definition. ​​Our estate is simply everything we own. We talk about financial freedom, generational wealth, and long-term investing, but few of us have taken the steps to make sure our assets are protected, accessible, or even transferable. If something unexpected happens—would our loved ones know where our crypto is stored? Would they have access to our brokerage accounts or understand our intentions? This guide isn’t about why you should start investing, you’re already doing that. It’s about making sure your investments are protected, accessible, and passed on according to your plan.

What is Gen Z investing in

Gen Z and millennials have spoken: Apple, Tesla, and Amazon consistently land in the top three holdings. Our money’s moving—and every move is designed for growth. Platforms like Robinhood and Fidelity make it easier than ever to buy in, with fractional shares and seamless access to Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) like VOO and SPY. 

Gen Z isn’t just interested in crypto—we’re all in. We’re investing in digital assets nearly four times more than traditional retirement accounts. Crypto has become a core part of the portfolio. The most popular coins being Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Solana. We are managing our coins digitally through Coinbase and Metamask. 

 Gen Z allocates approximately 41% of their assets to U.S. stocks, with a median investment amount of $77,790.06. The average Gen Z investor has about $4,000 invested across various asset classes.

Why Estate Planning Still Matters 

We are obsessed with building wealth, we want passive income, financial freedom, and to make a generational impact. Despite this we are building estates without building plans. You don't need a mansion in hidden hills to have an estate. You already have one, your robinhood account? That's your estate, your Solana in Metamask? Yep. Your VOO, your Bitcoin if you own it, it’s part of your estate. The truth is: if you have assets, you already have an estate. And that means you need a plan for what happens to those assets if something unexpected occurs. We don’t like to think about worst-case scenarios especially at our age, but planning doesn’t mean you’re being morbid—it means you’re being proactive.

We’re out here grinding, investing, creating—yet most of us are one accident away from our assets being gone. 

Volatility Means More Than Just Market Swings

We think of volatility as a 30% crash that can happen over night. Volatility isn't just about price swings. Your assets can disappear as a result of losing a password or never writing down your seed phrase. 

Misconceptions About Timing

Society has always told us estate planning was for rich adults with vacation homes and three kids. I disagree. Estate planning is for:

• The 24-year-old with $8K in stocks

• The 27-year-old with a side hustle freelancing on the side 

• The 22-year-old stacking ETH since 2021

We don’t need a six-figure portfolio to justify a plan. We just need a desire to protect what we’ve already built—and the people we care about. If something were to happen, it’s never about age. It’s about clarity, access, and avoiding roadblocks.

Beneficiaries Aren’t Universal

A beneficiary is the person who gets your assets if something happens to you. Many platforms let you name one—this is called a transfer-on-death (TOD) or payable-on-death (POD).These are a great first step, allowing the assets to go straight to the person, without going through probate.

Here is the catch: The beneficiary is only designated for that specific account. Naming a beneficiary on that platform can override what you have in your trust or your will. If they don't match up then your wishes may not be met. 

Now for crypto platforms, they don't allow any kind of beneficiary designation. The only way to have access would be through the wallet or the recovery keys. So for crypto, the only way to ensure those assets are protected and passed on is by explicitly listing them in a Will or Trust, or Including clear instructions or access details. Otherwise no one will be able to claim them! 

How to Protect Your Assets

Here's How We Can Protect Our Portfolio 

1. Add Beneficiaries Where You Can

   • Robinhood, Fidelity, and Schwab support TOD designations

   • Crypto? Not so much, you must name them in your estate plan

   • Pro Tip: Make sure that your beneficiaries match up with both your designated platform and Trust or Will 

2. Include All Assets in Your Will or Trust

   • Specifically list crypto wallets, brokerage accounts, and ETFs

   • Use legal language to ensure clarity and compliance

3. Secure Your Access Details

   • Use a password manager or secure vault

   • Share critical instructions with your executor

   • Keep a physical backup of your digital access letter in a secure place. 

Final Thoughts: Planning = Power 

Gen Z is savvy with money—but real power means protecting your gains.You’ve worked hard to build your portfolio—now make sure it goes to the right people. Naming a beneficiary is one of the simplest, most powerful steps you can take. And for crypto? That’s where your Will or Trust comes in. Estate planning isn’t just productive, it’s an essential part of your financial life.

At Trust & Will, we keep things simple. You can create a fully customizable, state-specific estate plan from the comfort of your own home. Take our free quiz to see where you should get started, or compare our different estate planning and settlement  options today!

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