Why the Youngest Players in the Market are also its Most Misunderstood
By all accounts, they should be too young to care.
Yet, walk into any online brokerage or fintech app’s user data, and you’ll find the same story: Gen Z is showing up, in droves. Scrolling and investing.
They do not wait for the perfect age or the next appraisal. Starting early, experimenting freely, and often learning the hard way is what the current generation has imbibed. According to reports, over 60% of new users of India’s topmost investing platforms, are under the age of 30.
The once slow, risk-averse persona of the Indian investor is being rewritten by a generation that prefers Robinhood reels over Warren Buffett wisdom.
If millennials discovered investing through bank-sponsored seminars and friendly IFAs, Gen Z is doing it on Discord. They trust YouTube explainers over equity research notes. The “research” often involves watching a viral Sarthak Ahuja reel and scanning a meme-laced comment section. And while that may sound absurd to a seasoned investor, the intent is unmistakable, they want in.
And perhaps, they’re onto something here.
Start early, diversify aggressively, and don’t be afraid to explore.
Many are investing across asset classes: smallcaps, U.S. equities, crypto, REITs, even unlisted shares. They’re not waiting to turn 35 before they own a portfolio. It’s democratic, ambitious, and oddly inspiring.
But speed comes with its stumbles.
A recent report by Zerodha found that over 50% of Gen Z investors exit their investments within a month. Conviction, it seems, is often lost in the noise. In a world of ten-second opinions, who has the time for ten-year plans?
Ask them about discounted cash flow or ROCE, and you’ll get a shrug. But ask about a penny stock trending on Twitter, and you might get a three-minute elevator pitch (sans any mention of fundamentals).
In short, Gen Z is investing like they stream content: curious, quick, and often without finishing the season. And yet, here lies the opportunity.
Financial institutions shouldn’t lecture them. They should equip them. Replace PDFs with swipeable decks. Offer insights, not caveats. The appetite is there. The frameworks are not.
Platforms like Precize are built on this idea. That private markets don’t have to feel like private clubs. That even a ₹10,000 investor deserves clarity on what they’re buying and why it matters.
As capital becomes more social, investing is no longer a financial act it has become a cult. What you invest in says something about who you are. And for Gen Z, that means investing in alignment with identity, values, and purpose.
This generation isn’t risk-averse. Nor is it reckless. It’s just... rewired.
And in a world where everyone is trying to catch the next big wave, perhaps the smartest play is to pause and understand the undercurrent.