Gen Z de-risks pre-midterms

Business · Heat 1.6 / 10 · 2 shows · 7m airtime

A Nationwide Retirement Institute survey conducted by Harris Poll, released October 20, 2026, found three in four Gen Z investors are changing or considering changing their portfolios ahead of the November midterms, more than four times the rate of baby boomers. About 24% moved money into more conservative investments, versus 13% of boomers. The discussion ties the shift to a selloff in defense names like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman as Kalshi odds of a Democratic sweep rise, and to advisors' advice to do nothing.

How 2 podcasts covered it

1. Morning Brew Daily, 2026-10-20 (11:40 to 15:53)
   Pairs the Gen Z survey with the defense selloff
   Walks through the Nationwide survey on Gen Z election anxiety and pairs it with the defense-stock selloff, charting the US Aerospace and Defense ETF's 16% drop against Kalshi's rising odds of a Democratic sweep. The advisors' do-nothing advice and the post-midterm return history round it out.
   New angle: Three in four Gen Z investors are changing or weighing portfolio changes before the midterms, over four times the boomer rate.
2. Bloomberg Surveillance, 2026-10-24 (22:23 to 24:58)
   Adds the advisor split to the Gen Z survey
   Walks through the Nationwide survey with the reporter who wrote it: the 72% figure, the 24% moving to conservative investments, and the 27% versus 12% advisor gap. It adds the advisor-consultation split but otherwise retells the numbers already on the record.