A significant factor in Gen Z and millennial divorce is ‘monetary future faking’

Sometimes the eventual severance comes right down to a distinction of morals or plain-old misplaced emotions. And typically it occurs when dishonestly, like catfishing, is revealed.

But many individuals within the youthful generations are navigating a brand new form of deception: monetary future faking. It’s when folks make huge guarantees to one another about sharing a house, life-style, or long-term monetary safety early in a relationship with none actual intention or follow-through. This phenomenon is an offshoot of “future faking,” a psychological manipulation tactic acknowledged by main well being care and psychological organizations. 

Financial future faking is changing into a significant factor in Gen Z and millennial divorces—and maybe a purpose why these youthful generations marry much less usually or a lot later in life.

“I often see a lack of financial intimacy, transparency, and alignment as central factors in divorce,” celeb divorce lawyer Jackie Combs informed Fortune. “When money becomes a source of leverage, or when expectations are never clearly articulated, it fractures communication, creates misalignment, and erodes trust.”

Combs, who’s a household and matrimonial legislation lawyer and companion at Los Angeles-based agency BlankRome, has represented many Gen Z and millennial celebrities together with Emily Ratajkowski, Chris Appleton, and Ines de Ramon. She additionally represents different excessive net-worth shoppers and has been acknowledged each as a prime household lawyer in addition to an “Entertainment Business Visionary” by the Los Angeles Times. 

The monetary future faking development is very disheartening for Gen Z and millennials as a result of they’re dealing with an inflationary interval, smooth job market, and a housing affordability disaster. So when these in relationships aren’t trustworthy about cash and shared targets, your complete life-style they’ve dreamed of might all come crashing down. 

“Gen Z and millennials are particularly vulnerable to future financial faking for several reasons,” Combs warned. “They are dating in an era of unprecedented financial instability, defined by student debt, housing unaffordability, and delayed economic security.”

Beware of the dream marriage ceremony

Combs says one more reason youthful generations are so inclined to it is because they have been raised in households the place cash was not often overtly mentioned, leaving them ill-equipped to ask direct monetary questions or perceive whether or not they’re financially aligned with their companion early on. 

“This vulnerability is compounded by consumer culture and social media, which glamorizes aspirational lifestyles such as luxury weddings, ‘soft life’ aesthetics, and trad-wife narratives, without addressing the financial infrastructure required to support them,” she added. 

The phantasm of a dream marriage ceremony can be a perpetrator. The marriage ceremony providers market alone was valued at about $218 billion in 2024, according to BRC Wedding Service Global Market Report 2025, and is predicted to develop to a whopping $362 billion by 2029. This underscores “how fantasy often outpaces financial reality,” Combs mentioned. 

To put it in perspective, the typical value of a marriage is an eye-popping $33,000, based on The Knot, or roughly half the average American salary. And that’s a comparatively conservative common, contemplating weddings in sure markets—and for sure demographics and aesthetics—can value a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars}. 

Still, it’s comforting and thrilling to daydream a few luxurious marriage ceremony and life-style along with your companion—though it may possibly usually result in a entice.

“When someone offers hope through vague financial promises about the future, it can feel reassuring rather than deceptive, making financial future faking particularly effective,” Combs mentioned.

How to identify monetary future faking—and when to speak about cash

Some of the widespread indicators of economic future faking embody making grand, however nonspecific monetary guarantees, a scarcity of transparency about revenue, debt, or spending, and repeated delays in monetary accountability or tangible course of towards a monetary purpose, Combs mentioned. 

“Future promises sound like commitment, but are never structured in reality or a future partnership” is what monetary future faking seems like, she added. 

But it’s troublesome, and might typically really feel confrontational, to query a companion—particularly in a brand new relationship—about funds. 

“Sincerity is reflected in alignment between words and behavior,” Combs mentioned. “Vague optimism without structure, or a willingness to learn, is a red flag.”

Combs mentioned it’s vital to have monetary discussions early on earlier than vital emotional or monetary commitments are made. That entails having discussions about cash earlier than shifting in collectively, signing a lease, or sharing bills. 

Still, “that doesn’t mean sharing your 401k balance on the first date,” she defined. “It means asking thoughtful, value-based questions like, ‘if you won the [lottery] today, what would you do with the winnings?’ ‘What does financial security mean to you?’ or “What’s your biggest financial fear?’”

To get essentially the most out of your dialog, Combs really helpful “leading with curiosity and not judgment” as a result of it may possibly assist present emotional vulnerability and construct belief. And it’s additionally important to have these conversations earlier than any discussions about marriage or long-term dedication, as a result of the previous can usually imply relinquishing monetary autonomy.

Basically, if one individual in a relationship doesn’t totally perceive the monetary or authorized implications of marriage, they “give up control over their financial future,” Combs mentioned.

“These conversations aren’t about forcing commitment,” she emphasised. “They’re about risk assessment and determining long-term compatibility.”