‘Financial Future Faking’ Cited as Key Reason for Gen Z and Millennial Divorces, Compared to Long-Term Partner Catfishing About Money

Many of us have experienced that sinking feeling when a relationship we believed was “the one” ultimately fails.

Sometimes, breakups stem from differing values or simply a loss of affection. Other times, they occur when dishonesty, akin to catfishing, comes to light.

However, many individuals in younger generations are now encountering a new form of deception: financial future faking. This involves making significant promises about shared living, lifestyle, or long-term financial security early in a relationship, without any genuine intention or plan to follow through. This phenomenon is an extension of “gaslighting,” a psychological manipulation tactic recognized by major healthcare and psychological organizations.

Financial future faking is emerging as a significant contributor to divorces among Gen Z and millennials, potentially explaining why these younger demographics are marrying less frequently or at later ages.

“I frequently observe a lack of financial intimacy, transparency, and alignment as core issues in divorce,” celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser told The New York Times. “When money is used as a tool for leverage, or when expectations are not clearly defined, it damages communication, creates discord, and erodes trust.”

Wasser, a family and matrimonial law attorney and partner at the Los Angeles-based firm Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles, has represented numerous Gen Z and millennial celebrities, including Emily Ratajkowski, Chris Appleton, and Ines de Ramon. She also represents other high-net-worth clients and has been recognized as a top family lawyer and an “A-list attorney” by the Los Angeles Times.

The trend of financial future faking is particularly challenging for Gen Z and millennials, who are currently navigating an inflationary economy, rising interest rates, and a housing affordability crisis. When partners are not upfront about their finances and shared aspirations, the envisioned lifestyle can completely unravel.

“Gen Z and millennials are especially susceptible to financial future faking for several reasons,” Wasser cautioned. “They are dating in an era of unprecedented financial instability, characterized by student loan debt, unaffordable housing, and delayed economic security.”

Beware of the dream wedding

Wasser suggests that another reason younger generations are so vulnerable is that they grew up in households where money was seldom openly discussed, leaving them unprepared to ask direct financial questions or assess financial compatibility with a partner early on.

“This vulnerability is amplified by consumer culture and social media, which glorify aspirational lifestyles like lavish weddings, ‘soft life’ aesthetics, and trad-wife narratives, without addressing the financial foundation needed to sustain them,” she added.

The illusion of a dream wedding can also be a contributing factor. The wedding services market alone was valued at approximately $218 billion in 2024, according to a BRC Wedding Service Global Market Report 2025, and is projected to reach $362 billion by 2029. This highlights “how fantasy often outpaces financial reality,” Wasser noted.

To put it in perspective, the average cost of a wedding is a staggering $35,000, according to The Knot, or roughly half the median annual income. And this is a relatively conservative average, considering weddings in certain locations—and for specific demographics and styles—can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Despite this, it is comforting and exciting to envision a luxurious wedding and lifestyle with a partner, though it can often lead to a trap.

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

How to spot financial future faking—and when to talk about money

Some common indicators of financial future faking include making grand but vague financial promises, a lack of transparency regarding income, debt, or spending, and consistent delays in financial accountability or tangible progress toward financial goals, according to Wasser.

“Future promises sound like commitment, but are never structured in reality or a future partnership” is how financial future faking often manifests, she explained.

However, it can be difficult, and at times feel confrontational, to question a partner—especially in a new relationship—about finances.

“Sincerity is reflected in the alignment between words and actions,” Wasser stated. “Vague optimism without a concrete plan, or a reluctance to learn, is a red flag.”

Wasser emphasizes the importance of having financial discussions early on, before significant emotional or financial commitments are made. This includes discussing money before moving in together, signing a lease, or sharing expenses.

Still, “that doesn’t mean sharing your 401k balance on the first date,” she clarified. “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 maximize the effectiveness of these conversations, Wasser recommends “leading with curiosity and not judgment,” as this approach can foster emotional vulnerability and build trust. It is also crucial to have these discussions before any talk of marriage or long-term commitment, as marriage can often involve relinquishing financial autonomy.

Essentially, if one partner in a relationship does not fully grasp the financial or legal implications of marriage, they “give up control over their financial future,” Wasser stated.

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