1993: The New Rules for Getting a Financial Life with NYT Bestseller Beth Kobliner

Gen Z isn't just surviving the financial chaos of 2026—they're outperforming previous generations in key areas of financial responsibility, despite unprecedented hurdles like student debt, housing unaffordability, and an attention economy that rewards impulse over wisdom. In a candid conversation with Farnoosh Torabi, bestselling author Beth Kobliner reveals that young people today save three times more than Gen X did in the 1990s, are far more likely to contribute to 401ks, and are increasingly aware of the dangers of financial influencers and speculative trends like crypto. Yet, paradoxically, they're also taking on more credit card debt than ever before. Kobliner argues that the real financial revolution isn't in flashy strategies, but in the quiet, consistent habits—like saving 10% of every paycheck, automating savings, and choosing index funds over hot stock tips—that are becoming second nature to this generation. She sees hope not in systemic fixes, but in a shift toward simplicity, skepticism, and long-term thinking, even as the rules of wealth-building have changed beyond recognition. The episode dismantles the myth that financial success requires a breakthrough moment. Instead, Kobliner champions 'financial momentum' built through tiny, repeatable actions—like skipping a coffee to invest in your future or using direct deposit to automate savings. These aren’t glamorous, but they’re the only tools that work when the system is stacked against you.