Prediction markets and cryptocurrencies rank among the top financial red flags Americans cite when evaluating a new romantic partner, according to a recent study.
Risk‑taking habits dominate relationship concerns
The 2026 Planning & Progress Study, conducted by The Harris Poll with 4,375 adults in early January, found that 60% of respondents consider poor money habits an automatic dealbreaker in a new relationship. Excessive gambling and risk‑taking topped the list, cited by 49% of participants. Hiding or lying about purchases followed at 47%, while high credit‑card debt was a concern for 41% of those surveyed.
Frequent impulse spending and the expectation that a partner cover all expenses rounded out the top five concerns, with 32% and 28% respectively flagging those behaviors as unacceptable.
Jeff Sippel, chief strategy officer at Northwestern Mutual, noted that “with online prediction markets, sports betting, and cryptocurrencies, high‑risk financial assets are now accessible in just a few clicks.” He warned that excessive involvement can erode trust as much as it can drain wallets.
Younger adults gravitate toward speculative assets
Engagement with prediction markets and sports betting is rising, especially among younger adults. Currently, 17% of all U.S. adults are either invested in or considering investment in these areas, but the figure climbs to a third for Gen Z and 24% for millennials. By contrast, only 10% of Gen X and 3% of the Boomer‑plus cohort report similar interest.
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Among those already dabbling in speculative assets, 73% said they were motivated by a feeling of being financially behind and the belief that such investments could accelerate their goals faster than traditional approaches. That sentiment is strongest among Gen Z, with 80% citing it, and 75% of millennials echo the sentiment, compared with 51% of the older group.
While many single adults do not prioritize a partner’s income—59% say earnings don’t factor into their ideal partner—there remains a notable gender gap in expectations. Women who consider income important target an average partner salary of $172,000, roughly 70% higher than the $101,000 men report. Millennials have the highest income expectations overall at $160,000.
Financial compatibility appears to outweigh other relationship metrics for married or cohabiting couples. Seventy‑two percent said shared financial values matter more than emotional chemistry, lifestyle, or interests. Physical, intellectual, and spiritual compatibility lag behind, at 63%, 62%, and 56% respectively.
Money disagreements are most acute among younger couples. Forty‑one percent of Gen Z respondents in a marriage or live‑in partnership reported serious strain from financial disputes, versus 33% of millennials, 25% of Gen X, and only a small fraction of the older cohort.
When looking at couples together for more than five years, half said their financial compatibility has strengthened over time, while just 12% felt it had deteriorated.
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Many observers note that this pattern mirrors earlier shifts in relationship habits when credit card use first became widespread. Back then, couples also grappled with new financial tools, learning that open dialogue could mitigate conflict. The current wave of digital assets seems to be repeating that learning curve, with technology amplifying both opportunity and risk.
Timing of money talks remains a challenge
Most Americans believe money should be discussed well before marriage or moving in together. Yet about one in five married or cohabiting couples admit they delayed that conversation until after reaching those milestones.
Generational data suggests younger couples are narrowing the gap. Twenty‑three percent of Gen Z respondents said their first honest money conversation happened right before marriage or moving in, compared with 13% of the Boomer‑plus group. Conversely, 16% of the older cohort waited until well after marriage, more than triple the 4% of Gen Z who did the same.
Sippel emphasized that while many couples are taking the right steps by talking openly about finances, “the challenge is that some are still waiting too long to have those conversations.” He added that financial advisors can add value by facilitating these discussions, helping partners uncover shared goals beyond just budgeting.
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