Financial Stress, AI Anxiety, and the New Work Mindset: Highlights from the Latest Future of Money Report with Lilah Raynor of Logica Research

Welcome back to Intellicast! On today’s episode, Brian is joined by Lilah Raynor, CEO of Logica Research, to break down the newest edition of their Future of Money report. The report is one of the most consistent and revealing longitudinal studies on how Americans think about money, work, and the economy. This semi-annual study, which has been running since 2017, offers an in-depth look at the financial mindset of U.S. consumers, and this wave highlights some of the clearest shifts in sentiment to date.

Kicking off the episode, Brian and Lilah discuss Americans’ overall mood on the economy. According to the latest data, half of Americans believe the economy is worse than it was six months ago, and a third expect it to get worse over the next year. Even among those who describe themselves as financially stable, financial stress remains high, with many feeling stretched thin by rising costs, housing pressures, and inconsistent income trends.

The conversation then shifts to how Americans are adjusting. Lilah shares that this wave shows a notable uptick in emergency savings behaviors. At the same time, people are making trade-offs in discretionary spending, cutting back on dining, entertainment, and nonessential purchases while prioritizing everyday needs.

Brian and Lilah also explore how the Future of Money report offers a window into the changing work mindset. Job movement intent has increased compared to the spring wave, and more people are open to switching jobs if they believe they can improve their stability or flexibility. Some of this is linked to economic pressure, but a growing portion is connected to technology-driven job anxiety, particularly for younger generations.

That leads directly into one of the most fascinating sections of the report: AI at work. This wave shows that over half of Americans are now using AI tools in the workplace, with ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot topping the list. Lilah explains that while AI adoption is increasing, it’s also creating uncertainty for those whose roles involve repetitive or administrative tasks. Younger workers, in particular, feel that AI is reshaping the path for entry-level opportunities.

The episode also touches on the report’s findings around saving, spending, and consumer behaviors across demographics. Lilah highlights differences across generations, noting that younger consumers are balancing optimism with caution, while older generations are more skeptical about the economic outlook but often feel more financially prepared. Together, these segments paint a complex picture of today’s financial mindset — one shaped equally by economic strain, evolving technology, and long-term uncertainty.

In the final segment, Brian and Lilah reflect on why long-running studies like the Future of Money matter. With nearly a decade of continuous data, the report helps brands, financial institutions, and researchers understand not just where consumers are today, but how and why their behaviors are changing over time.

You can download your copy of The Future of Money here.

You can learn more about Logica Research by visiting their website: https://logicaresearch.com/

You can connect with Lilah via email at LRaynor@logicaresearch.com or via LinkedIn here.

Thanks for tuning in!

Want to download your copy of The Sample Landscape: 2025 Edition? Get it here:  https://content.emi-rs.com/sample-landscape-report-2025

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