Young adults in their 20s are juggling student loans, rent hikes, and the siren call of avocado toast—but the biggest financial misstep they’re making? Ignoring retirement savings. That’s the blunt take from Kyla Scanlon, a rising star in the world of money influencers, who’s sounding the alarm in a MarketWatch interview on April 2, 2025. With a knack for breaking down complex economics on platforms like TikTok, Scanlon argues that skipping those early nest-egg contributions could haunt today’s Gen Z and Millennials for decades.
“Time is your superpower in your 20s,” Scanlon said. “If you’re not putting money away now, you’re throwing away the magic of compound interest.” She’s not wrong. A dollar saved at 25 could grow to $15 by 65, assuming a 7% annual return, per basic investment math. Wait until 35, and that same dollar only hits $7.50. The gap’s stark: someone stashing $200 a month from age 25 could amass over $500,000 by retirement, while starting at 35 nets half that.
Scanlon, 27, knows her audience. With over 200,000 followers across social media, she’s built a rep for translating Wall Street jargon into real talk. Her latest crusade targets the “live for today” mindset she sees derailing her peers. “I get it—retirement feels like a million years away when you’re scraping by,” she said. “But even $50 a month in a Roth IRA beats nothing.”
Data backs her up. A 2024 Vanguard study found just 38% of Americans in their 20s contribute to retirement accounts, compared to 62% of those in their 30s. Why the lag? Scanlon points to a mix of low starting salaries, crushing debt (average student loan balance: $37,000), and a culture that glorifies instant gratification. “Social media’s full of ‘treat yourself’ vibes,” she noted. “No one’s flexing their 401(k).”
Her fix is simple but urgent: start small, automate it, and don’t touch it. “Set up a $20 monthly transfer to an index fund and forget it exists,” she advised. “It’s not sexy, but it’s freedom later.” Scanlon also nods to employer matches—free money too many 20-somethings leave on the table. A 2023 Fidelity report pegs the average match at 4.7% of salary; for a $50,000 earner, that’s $2,350 a year missed.
Critics might argue Scanlon oversimplifies a tough reality—entry-level wages haven’t kept pace with inflation, and emergencies drain what’s left. But she’s unapologetic. “You don’t need to save a fortune—just start the habit,” she said. “The real mistake is thinking you’ll catch up later. You won’t.”
For a generation facing AI job shifts and a shaky economy, Scanlon’s warning hits hard: the future’s expensive, and 20-somethings who don’t plan for it now might pay the steepest price.
