Affordability is the foundation on which the American Dream is built, but today it clouds every aspect of our lives. 80% of young Americans believe they need more than one source of income to survive. 75% believe that owning a home – a hallmark of the American Dream—seems impossible. No matter how much they save, they don’t think they’ll ever have enough financial security to live in comfort. 

To make the Dream real, we need a cost of living that allows for saving and investing, not merely surviving. Addressing the root causes of unaffordability and understanding where it hits young Americans the hardest — from keeping a roof over their heads to staying healthy— is critical to keeping the American Dream alive. ADI knows that the Dream relies on giving young people a solid financial foundation upon which to build. 

The economic ladder is at best shaky, and at worst, broken. Traditional markers of hard work-- like higher education or a stable job-- aren’t leading to the financial stability that we associate with the American Dream. 75% of young Americans think they will be worse off than their parents. Opportunities to move up feel accessible only to the wealthiest, but not to other people working hard to advance. 

Young Americans want economic mobility. They want access to pathways that reward ambition regardless of starting point. Hard work should pay off, education should be accessible, and young Americans should have a realistic shot of making their lives better. The American Dream is built on the idea that with hard work, anyone can succeed. ADI believes economic mobility is key to this.  

Despite the economic hardships they face, young Americans still want to be wealthy. 56% believe it is extremely important to be rich, and 78% aspire to be more than just middle class. But young people know there's more to life than money—they just want peace of mind. They want the resources to live meaningfully, support their family, spend without stress, and control how they spend their time. 

Keeping the Dream alive means embracing a wide view of what makes for a wealthy life. It means understanding that hard-earned financial success is not the same as greed, and that wealth in all its forms should be desirable, rather than embarrassing. The ultimate goal of the American Dream is this widespread prosperity, and ADI believes it should be attainable for every American who works hard and plays by the rules.