CommSec Pulse: Generation X

How Gen Xers are managing their finances

Generation X generally values financial independence and self-reliance, shaped by economic cycles, rising interest rates, market downturns and significant shifts in workplace structures throughout their working lives. While many have benefited from strong asset growth, they also face growing financial responsibilities, including supporting children, ageing parents and preparing for retirement. 

As a result, financial wellbeing for Gen X is increasingly focused on balancing current obligations with long-term security. Key priorities include: 

• Maintaining savings 
• Managing debt 
• Protecting wealth 
• Ensuring retirement readiness

Gen X is CommSec’s second-largest trading generation

CommSec’s trading data shows that 24% of active investors are Gen X. The figures are correct as of 30 June 2026. 

The bottom line

Generation X is financially experienced and increasingly focused on wealth preservation and long-term security. Having navigated multiple economic cycles, their approach to money balances growing financial responsibilities with retirement planning.  

While most Aussie Gen X investors continue to trade Australian-listed companies, many are also diversifying globally, with increasing interest in international equities listed on exchanges such as the NYSE and Nasdaq. 

To learn more about how to invest in global companies, see International Trading.

Across the generations

CommSec’s analysis of our customers’ profiles and activities across FY26 has uncovered some fascinating insights into Aussie traders and trading behaviour broadly, regardless of their generation. Among our key findings:

• More Australians are investing, both domestically and especially internationally We saw growth of 11.5% in trading customers over the past fiscal year, with trading up 27% on FY25 and traded value up 33%. New domestic stock accounts were up 10% and new international accounts up 16%

• Aussie traders are more engaged overall The proportion of our customers who completed a trade in the 12 months to May ticked up by 0.2% compared to the same timeframe to November 2025. We also saw more people trade within the first 90 days of opening their trading account

• Women are a bigger force in the trading market than ever before Female investors are driving a bigger share of new money into markets, at 42% of first-time investors in FY26, up from 36.3% two years ago. They now represent 34% of our active investors, up slightly from FY25, and they tend to trade more in ETFs than their male counterparts, who generally trade more in direct equities

• Investors are getting younger, especially first-time investors Traded value for our under-40 customers increased 54.9%, compared with 30.3% for customers aged 40+. The under‑40 share of first‑time investor activity climbed from 63.2% in FY24 to 66.2% in FY26