Research by Alto Solutions, Inc., a self-directed IRA provider, claims 53% of millennial investors aren’t confident they will ever be able to afford retirement. And 76% worry that a market crash could erase their savings.

Why should we care?
Consistent macroeconomic uncertainties—caused by wars, a pandemic, climate change, and much more—make consumers predisposed to assuming a downturn is coming. Among other concerns, this may also explain rising interest in alternative investments across generations, which, while highly volatile and largely unregulated, may offer higher returns (in certain periods) than more traditional investments. Alto’s research suggests 85% of millennials, 81% of Gen Xers, and 70% of boomers are interested in learning more about alternative investment sources like crypto and real estate. This may normalize diversifying a retirement portfolio, and, under the right regulatory conditions, can stabilize long-term plans. But it also risks making various commodities even more speculative than they already are, like in real estate, potentially driving inflation and causing greater market uncertainty. The future of retirement is uncertain, requiring innovation from both financial leaders and politicians.