CNBC · 23 Sep, 13:19 · Finance briefing

72% of Americans would slow financial progress to enjoy life now, SoFi survey finds

A recent SoFi survey, reported by CNBC, reveals that 72% of Americans are willing to decelerate their financial advancement to prioritise immediate life enjoyment.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

A recent SoFi survey, reported by CNBC, reveals that 72% of Americans are willing to decelerate their financial advancement to prioritise immediate life enjoyment. This significant shift indicates a growing preference for present well-being over traditional long-term wealth accumulation strategies. For professionals, this data underscores a changing societal attitude towards work-life balance and financial security, suggesting that career choices are increasingly influenced by personal fulfillment rather than purely monetary gain.

Employer demand for Human Resources skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift signals that employees now prioritise autonomy and well-being over pure salary growth. You must adapt your career strategy to align with this demand. Skills in managing flexible teams and negotiating remote work arrangements will rise in value. Pay close attention if you work in human resources or leadership, as you will need to redesign retention strategies. A smart professional would audit their current workload to ensure it supports their desired lifestyle. Consider upskilling in areas that offer flexibility, such as digital project management or strategic planning. You should also evaluate whether your current role offers the work-life integration you now value more than rapid financial progression. Prioritise roles that respect boundaries, as this is becoming a key differentiator in the modern job market.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Human Resources, Leadership, Business And Management and Psychology — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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to benefit.

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