Veteran trader Peter Brandt has delivered a blunt message to the younger generation: stop trading — at least the gambling-style kind that destroys most portfolios. In his words, this high-risk, casino-like approach wipes out 95% of participants.
Brandt isn’t speaking from a place of superiority. In fact, he openly admits that his own generation — the Baby Boomers — “screwed over” Gen Z. He points to a combination of political decisions, bureaucratic policies, and aggressive private equity strategies that have driven up prices, inflated national and personal debt, weakened the job market, and made housing unaffordable for millions of young people.
Faced with this reality, Brandt believes the best course of action for Gen Z is to focus on building practical, marketable skills that can secure steady income in a volatile economy. Alongside that, he urges young people to save as much as they possibly can — a countercultural move in an age where consumerism and instant gratification dominate.
That doesn’t mean abandoning modern investment opportunities altogether. Brandt acknowledges that Web3 technologies, blockchain innovation, and crypto investing can offer genuine long-term potential. However, he warns against diving headfirst into “degen” speculation — the reckless, hype-driven trading that promises quick riches but usually ends in devastating losses.
In short, his advice blends realism with opportunity:
Equip yourself with skills no economic downturn can erase.
Save relentlessly to build financial resilience.
Approach new markets with a disciplined, research-driven mindset.
The message is clear — Gen Z may have inherited a tougher economic hand, but with the right strategy, they can still play it to win.
