GS interviews ZayZoon's Tate Hackert

Gen Z came of age during a global crisis—and it permanently altered how they think and talk about money. In this Q&A, Tate Hackert, chief strategy officer and co-founder of ZayZoon, explores how the pandemic ushered in a new era of financial transparency, reshaping Gen Z's expectations around income, budgeting and access to financial tools.

From relying on buy now, pay later services for essentials to embracing earned wage access and mobile-first financial literacy, Gen Z is navigating a volatile economy with caution, immediacy, and a drive for autonomy. Hackert discusses the cultural and economic forces influencing their financial behaviors—and what employers, fintechs, and policymakers need to know.

1. How has the pandemic-era shift toward financial transparency shaped Gen Z's current attitudes about money? What lasting effects are you seeing, and how are they influencing financial behaviors today?

The pandemic introduced a new perspective to financial issues, where a topic that was once considered taboo suddenly became very transparent. Individuals let their guard down and were willing to discuss financial shortfalls, student loans, layoffs and income disparities openly.

Finances were brought to the forefront of many conversations, and individuals were more willing to look for tools and external support to remain afloat. Gen Z became accustomed to this transparency and is now demanding it, at a time when data shows that 62 percent of Gen Zers report being stressed about their finances. 

Now, Gen Z craves financial clarity and expects transparency not just from institutions, but their peers as well. They also hold high expectations for employers, insisting on clear communication about pay ranges and benefits.

To improve their financial health, 77 percentof Gen Zers are also actively seeking financial advice or information on budgeting, investing, and building wealth from social media platforms. They are consistently seeking opportunities to learn and make proactive financial decisions that align with their needs.

Ultimately, the pandemic created a desire from Gen Z for openness around finances, creating cultural shifts in how they talk about income, debt, and financial goals.

2. Data shows Gen Zers are using BNPL services for essentials like groceries. What does this say about their financial stability and access to credit?

Gen Z turning to tools like BNPL for essentials isn't surprising. In fact,data shows Gen Z employees are overwhelmingly stressed about affording essentials like rent and bills, alongside tuition and student loan payments, and their lack of savings.

As wages fall behind the rising cost of living, they're turning to different tools to help make ends meet between paychecks. Their use of these tools shows the disconnect between Gen Z's financial realities and their income, forcing them to turn to other solutions to afford daily needs like groceries.

3. You've said Gen Z never moved on from their pandemic-era money mindset. Can you unpack what that mindset looks like and why it persists?

The pandemic-era money mindset for Gen Z is defined by caution, heightened awareness and a deeply personal relationship with financial wellness. Unlike generations before, who took more care in building financial confidence, Gen Z's introduction to adulthood and the workforce was defined by uncertainty, and they were more willing to discuss finances with friends, family, and colleagues. 

This mindset persists today because of continued economic volatility. Just over 62 percent of Gen Z employees — nearly two-thirds — are experiencing occasional to constant financial stress.

This stress means Gen Z is still navigating a world where living paycheck to paycheck, handling unexpected expenses and saving are constant challenges. They're not moving on from this mindset because the conditions that created it haven't changed; in many cases, they've evolved and intensified. 

4. What types of financial education or tools do you believe Gen Z needs most right now to make sound, proactive money decisions?

Gen Z is a mobile-first, immediacy-driven generation that grew up with information and services available at the tap of a screen, and they expect their financial tools to work the same way. To empower them to make sound financial decisions, Gen Z is focused on accessing tools that offer flexibility, accessibility, and clear value. 

Flexible pay options like EWA are a top priority. Offering Gen Z a lifeline like EWA helps them avoid overdraft fees, high-interest loans, or credit card debt.

In fact, datashows that 82% of Gen Z employees say it's important for their employer to offer EWA.

Gen Z also benefits frombite-sized, modular financial education , whether through app-based learning, quick video modules, or personalized 1:1 financial coaching. They're actively seeking out financial knowledge and tools to improve their financial health, but are focused on formats that match their lifestyle.

5. Tariffs, inflation and supply chain disruptions are ongoing — how are these macroeconomic factors specifically impacting Gen Z compared to other age groups?

Current macroeconomic conditions have brought a new level of uncertainty to the cost of living and essential goods for every generation. However, for Gen Zers, these disruptions could have a bigger impact, as datashows Gen Z spends nearly twice as much as they have in savings. 

As the newest generation to enter the workforce, Gen Ze typically earns less than other generations and is likely experiencing heightened financial anxiety amidst current uncertainty. Similar to the pandemic, Gen Z is facing another era of volatility, forcing them to be financially cautious and turn to different fintech tools like BNPL, EWA and budgeting apps to make ends meet.

6. How are Gen Z users engaging with earned wage access and other tools differently than other generations, and what trends are you seeing in their usage?

Gen Z grew up in an on-demand world. With cellphones at their fingertips, they've become accustomed to immediacy through same-day deliveries, streaming capabilities, instant messaging and ride-share apps. Naturally, they expect the same flexibility when it comes to their finances.

Having access to earned wages is important for Gen Z to match the real-time technology they've become accustomed to, especially when expected expenses come up between paychecks.

While both Gen Z and millennials believe employees should have more control over when they access their pay, older generations like Gen X and baby boomers disagree, arguing employers should remain in control. This generational divide highlights how expectations around financial autonomy and transparency are rapidly shifting among age groups. 


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