Many of us have experienced that heartbreaking feeling when we realize that the relationship we were in and the one we thought was “the only” relationship was actually a complete failure.
Sometimes, the final breakup comes down to moral differences or a plain sense of loss. Sometimes this happens when dishonesty, such as catfishing, is revealed.
But many younger generations are experiencing a new kind of deception: faking their financial future. This is when people make significant commitments to each other early in a relationship about a shared home, lifestyle, or long-term financial security without any real intention or follow-through. This phenomenon is “future forgery”, a psychological manipulation tactic endorsed by major healthcare and psychological organizations.
Faking their financial future is becoming a major factor in divorce for Gen Z and Millennials, which may also be why these younger generations are marrying less frequently or marrying later.
“I often point to a lack of financial intimacy, transparency and consistency as core factors in divorce,” Celebrity Divorce Lawyer Jackie Combs Tell wealth. “When money becomes a source of leverage, or when expectations are never clearly stated, it undermines communication, creates inconsistency, and erodes trust.”
Combs is a family and matrimonial law attorney and a partner at a Los Angeles law firm blank romehas represented many Gen Z and Millennial celebrities, including Emily Ratajkowski, Chris Appleton and Ines de Ramon. She also represents other high net worth clients and is recognized as a top family lawyer and “Entertainment Business Visionary” Depend on Los Angeles Times.
For Gen Z and Millennials, the trend of falsifying their financial future is particularly frustrating as they face periods of inflation, Weak job marketand a housing affordability crisis. So when people in a relationship are dishonest about money and shared goals, their entire dream lifestyle can come crashing down.
“Gen Z and Millennials are particularly vulnerable to future financial fraud for a number of reasons,” Coombs warned. “They are dating in an era of unprecedented financial instability that is marked by student debt, unaffordable housing and delayed financial security.”
Beware of Dream Weddings
Coombs said another reason younger generations are so susceptible to this influence is that they grew up in families where money was rarely discussed openly, leaving them without the ability to ask direct financial questions or understand whether they were financially aligned with their partners early on.
“Consumer culture and social media exacerbate this vulnerability, glorifying ideal lifestyles such as lavish weddings, ‘soft life’ aesthetics and traditional wife narratives, without addressing the financial infrastructure needed to support these lifestyles,” she added.
Dream wedding delusions may also be to blame. By 2024, the wedding services market alone will be worth approximately $218 billion. according to BRC Wedding Services Global Market Report 2025 is expected to grow to USD 362 billion by 2029. Coombs said this underscores how “fantasy often trump financial reality.”
To put it into perspective, the average cost of a wedding is eye-popping $33,000according to The Knot , or about half average American salary. This is a relatively conservative average considering that weddings in certain markets (and certain demographics and aesthetics) can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Still, there’s something comforting and exciting about fantasizing about a lavish wedding and lifestyle with your partner—even if it often leads to pitfalls.
“When someone offers hope through vague financial promises about the future, it’s reassuring rather than deceptive, which makes falsifying a financial future particularly effective,” Coombs said.
How to spot fake behavior in your financial future—and when to talk about money
Coombs said some common signs of financial future fraud include making ambitious but unspecific financial promises, a lack of transparency about income, debt or expenses, and repeated delays in financial accountability or specific progress toward achieving financial goals.
She added that this is the false voice of the future of finance “that sounds like a promise but is never built into reality or future partnerships.”
But asking your partner about finances, especially in a new relationship, can be difficult and sometimes confrontational.
“Authenticity is demonstrated by consistent actions with words,” Coombs said. “Vague optimism that lacks structure or a willingness to learn is a red flag.”
Coombs says it’s important to have financial discussions early before making any major emotional or financial commitments. This requires discussing money matters before moving in together, signing a lease, or sharing expenses.
Still, “that doesn’t mean sharing your 401k balance on the first date,” she explains. “That means asking thoughtful, value-based questions like ‘If you won (the lottery) today, what would you do with your winnings?’ “What does financial security mean to you?” ” or “What is your biggest financial fear?” “
To get the most out of your conversation, Combs recommends “leading with curiosity, not judgment,” as it can help show emotional vulnerability and build trust. It’s also important to have these conversations before discussing marriage or long-term commitment, as the former often means giving up financial autonomy.
Basically, Combs said, if one person in a relationship doesn’t fully understand the financial or legal implications of marriage, they’re “giving up control of their financial future.”
“These conversations are not about forcing commitment,” she stresses. “They’re about risk assessment and determining long-term compatibility.”