SoFi Blog

For many Americans, the beginning of a new year is a time for self-reflection and personal goal-setting — losing those holiday pounds, learning a new language, or maybe getting to a better place with their finances.

As a personal finance company devoted to helping a new generation achieve prosperity, we decided we’d dive into the financial aspect of these resolutions, especially among younger Americans. We also wanted to see how recent events might have shaped those resolutions. So we surveyed more than 500 college-educated Americans ages 25-34 — the older cohort of U.S. Millennials — to find out their attitudes on a variety of forward-looking finance topics.

If the United States economy was a movie, student loans would be the super villain– or at the very least, a founding member of the Suicide Squad.

Over the past decade or so, outstanding student loan debt has grown faster than a toxic algae bloom, surpassing a whopping $1.3 trillion. Saddled with increasingly scary levels of debt, young professionals have decreased spending and put off major purchases, such as buying a home, fueling an ongoing drag on the economy. Inability to pay student loan debt can even lead to mental health issues and physical illness, which can have a major impact on employee productivity and business performance.

Millennials are positioned to make a big impact in this year’s presidential election—if they turn out to vote.

• Young voters were a key factor in the election of Barack Obama. Obama won 66 percent of the under-30 vote in 2008 and 60 percent in 2012.
• Young voter turnout increased substantially in the last two elections. About half of eligible voters aged 18-29 voted in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, compared to less than 40% of voters that age during the 1990s.
• Young voters have the numbers to make a difference. For the first time, the millennial voting population equals that of baby boomers.

Today’s 20- and 30-somethings are facing unprecedented financial challenges, like unemployment, stagnant wages, and student loan debt. This year’s election is a huge opportunity for young voters to make their voices heard. The presidential candidates are talking (a lot) about finances and the economy, and our next president’s actions will likely have a big impact on everyone’s financial future.

Check out our guide below to the 2016 presidential candidates and their stances on the issues that impact young professionals’ financial health.