Katherine Davidson: Melting the millennial myth

‘Not so special, snowflake’

clock • 6 min read

Are millennials genuinely so different from previous generations? Katherine Davidson takes a closer look at the results of new research challenging that widely held view

Last month I was invited to present at a conference in Berlin, for which I spent a couple of days preparing and then got up at 4am to fly over and attend. The speaker before me confidently told the audience that millennials lacked their elders' work ethic so would drag down productivity and GDP growth. As I took to the stage, I rather wondered why I bothered … Millennials, broadly defined as the generation born between 1980 and 2000, have grown accustomed to these sweeping generalisations. We are blamed for weak new car sales, the death of bricks-and-mortar retail, rising debt and flaggi...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Professional Adviser's flagship conference PA360 returns for 2026

Professional Adviser's flagship conference PA360 returns for 2026

PA360: Actionable insights – Smarter Outcomes open for adviser registrations

Professional Adviser
clock 05 December 2025 • 1 min read
Feel Good Friday: One Four Nine Wealth hosts charity blood drive

Feel Good Friday: One Four Nine Wealth hosts charity blood drive

In support of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service

Professional Adviser
clock 05 December 2025 • 1 min read
Nici Audhlam-Gardiner: Wider basic advice adoption could shrink advice gap

Nici Audhlam-Gardiner: Wider basic advice adoption could shrink advice gap

'There is no need to reinvent the wheel here'

Nici Audhlam-Gardiner
clock 04 December 2025 • 4 min read