In a world where it seems that no one is immune to the effects of AI on workers and an increasingly tight job market, ultra-high net worth people are starting to have the same concerns as middle-class and low-income families: Will my child get a job and support themselves?

“Billionaires have the financial resources to support their children, but sometimes they struggle to determine what else is needed for their children to succeed,” Tom Thiegs, managing director of leadership and legacy at Ascent Private Capital Management with US Bank, said luck.

Millionaires and billionaires “recognize it’s not the same game they have to play,” wealth manager Patrick Dwyer SPOKE CNBC. “Families need to rethink … what it means to support their children. And we’re not talking about harming your children. We’re talking about: What if your child has to retrain at age 33?” Dwyer is the managing director, Aligned by NewEdge Wealth, a boutique wealth management firm based in Miami. He works with clients with net worths between roughly $100 million and over $1 billion.

Dwyer said her clients are worried their children, usually between the ages of 22 and 35, are struggling to secure and hang on to jobs that involve a history of security and status, including technology, law, and health care. That means the rich need to plan for a future where they pass more of their wealth on to their children.

“(They realize) that if they don’t pass on more meaningful wealth to their children, or their children don’t accumulate wealth… CNBC.

While this may seem like an irrational fear from America’s wealthiest, it’s a reality recognized by many wealth managers.

“It’s a real concern that I’m hearing from the wealthiest families today,” Thiegs said. “On the surface it may not make sense: ‘Why would a billionaire worry about their child getting a job?’ But the truth is, no matter how much money you have, parents still want their children to succeed and live a happy life.”

The concern of the job market

The job market concerns that Gen Zers face directly affect how their parents can help them plan for their financial future.

But the crux of the problem isn’t parents’ fear that they won’t be able to help their children financially, it’s more that they worry that they won’t have the same career outcomes and sense of fulfillment as previous generations.

“They’re not usually worried about their children’s financial security; instead they’re worried that the job market will affect their child’s sense of purpose, identity, and confidence,” Thiegs said. “They also worry that significant wealth will inhibit their drive or desire to work.”

But that doesn’t mean Thiegs encourages his clients to just bankroll their children for the foreseeable future. However, estate planning, investments, and other long-term financial planning are necessary.

“If parents are concerned about their children’s job security, we recommend creating a system that provides opportunities for growth and development rather than a financial safety net,” he said.

It is more important to implement plans that support the child’s self worth rather than their net worth, he added.

Trent Von Ahsen, a certified financial planner and managing partner of Cedar Point Capital Partnersalso said that his ultra-high net worth families see the risks of the current job market as less of a financial stability concern, but more about whether they put their children forever dependent on them.

“This group of parents seems to be more concerned about over-supporting their children, rather than under-supporting them,” Von Ahsen said. luck.

How Gen Z fares in the job market

The shift away from historically high-paying, white-collar jobs is already visible in the choices made by Gen Z. Faced with mass layoffs in white-collar sectors and concerns about AI, many young workers are moving away from traditional corporate routes in favor of jobs they think may offer more control or faster money-from became a creator career to choose for blue jobs in manufacturing, electrical workand other technical work.

In some cases, college-educated Gen Zers are the same competing for six-figure nanny and teacher roles in elite households, pursuing financial “freedom” outside of the traditional office career. A 2025 Deloitte global survey found that only 6% of Gen Z respondents cited achieving a corporate leadership role as a primary goal. However, most prioritize work-life balance, personal satisfaction, and learning.

All of this means, however, that billionaires and other high-net-worth individuals will have to plan financially differently than they might before. They should design financial plans that “encourage growth and responsibility” instead of just making large bequests at once, Von Ahsen said.

“We’re seeing more emphasis on flexibility in education funding, mentoring, and wealth transfers,” he said. It is a “real attitude that works to give the opportunity to not lose the initiative.