Gen Z “cashing out” their future isn’t recklessness — it’s a warning flare for all of us.

When I posted this, I didn’t expect thousands of people to respond. What I read in those comments was sobering: • Young adults aren’t “giving up.” They’re strategic — choosing community college first, skipping degrees that won’t pay off, and avoiding debt they know could crush them for life. • Parents are making heartbreaking choices, guiding their kids through a system that feels like it’s designed to trap, not empower. • People across generations said the same thing: the ladder is broken. College costs are sky-high, wages stagnant, housing out of reach, and debt has become a business model.

This isn’t a “Gen Z problem.” It’s a flashing red light for an economy that no longer works for those starting out.

If a whole generation is opting out, it’s not because they’re lazy — it’s because they’re paying attention. And maybe the rest of us should too.