Half of Americans Feel Financially Adrift Amid Economic Uncertainty

Rhea-AI Summary

The 2025 Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and The Harris Poll reveals widespread financial anxiety among Americans. 53% of adults feel setbacks despite efforts to get ahead financially, while 48% report treading water financially.

Key findings show that 63% of Americans worry about government partisanship affecting their finances, and 57% believe economic uncertainty makes achieving long-term financial goals impossible. While 65% rate their financial decision-making abilities highly, only 56% feel confident about their current financial state.

Notably, just 5% of Americans facing debt-related problems would seek help from nonprofit credit counseling agencies. The survey, funded by Wells Fargo Foundation, emphasizes the need for professional financial guidance during uncertain economic times.

Positive

• NFCC maintains 15+ year partnership with The Harris Poll, showing institutional stability
• Wells Fargo Foundation funding support demonstrates strong corporate backing
• Large addressable market with 13.1M adults potentially needing credit counseling services

Negative

• Only 5% of Americans with financial problems would seek NFCC's services, indicating low market penetration
• 53% of potential customers report financial setbacks, suggesting limited ability to pay for services
• 48% of adults live paycheck-to-paycheck, indicating high risk of default for credit counseling services
• 57% report difficulty in managing/paying debt, which could impact service success rates

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New NFCC survey shows many feel 'set back' or 'treading water' despite efforts

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pervasive economic and governmental uncertainty is significantly impacting Americans' financial well-being, leaving many feeling stuck despite their best efforts, according to the 2025 Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey released today by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®) and conducted by The Harris Poll. The survey, funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and released during Financial Literacy Month, highlights how external volatility contributes to a sense of financial stagnation for millions.

Widespread concerns about the economic landscape contribute to a sense of financial stagnation for millions.

Amid widespread concerns about the economic landscape, the survey found that about half of U.S. adults feel that no matter how hard they try to get ahead financially, something always comes up to set them back (53%). A similar proportion (48%) feel like they are constantly treading water financially, and any unexpected expense could pull them under. One-third (33%) report they are just getting by financially. 

This sentiment is strongly linked to broader anxieties. A striking 63% of Americans worry that partisanship and volatility in the U.S. government will negatively impact their personal finances in the coming year. Furthermore, 57% agree that the current uncertainty in the U.S. economy makes it impossible to achieve their long-term financial goals, and an identical 57% find this uncertainty makes managing or paying off debt more difficult.  

This environment of uncertainty appears to overshadow consumers' confidence in their own abilities. While 65% grade their capacity to make good personal finance decisions as an A or B, significantly fewer (56%) rate the actual state of their personal finances as highly, suggesting that external pressures are a major factor limiting progress.  

 "Feeling financially stressed isn't a personal failing," said NFCC CEO Mike Croxson. "As the survey makes clear, it's often a reflection of the deep uncertainty consumers face today. Good intentions aren't enough when the economic ground feels unstable. That's why the steady, expert support from NFCC Certified Credit Counselors can make such a meaningful difference for people in these uncertain times."

"At Wells Fargo we're committed to helping individuals and families strengthen their financial future," said Bonnie Wallace, head of financial health philanthropy at Wells Fargo. "We're proud to work with NFCC to expand access to financial health coaching and resources to help people build financial security."

While millions face these pressures, the survey reveals a concerning gap among those seeking professional help. Only 5% of Americans or approximately 13.1 million adults¹ experiencing financial problems related to debt would turn to a professional nonprofit credit counseling agency for assistance. Given the widespread financial strain and economic uncertainty highlighted in this survey, accessing trusted guidance is more critical than ever. For those struggling with unmanageable credit card debt or other financial challenges exacerbated by today's conditions, confidential help from certified professionals can provide a clear path forward.  

Don't navigate financial challenges alone. Time is not on your side if you are feeling overwhelmed by debt or financial uncertainty. Reach out to the NFCC for confidential counseling and proven solutions. Visit nfcc.org or call 800-388-2227 today.

The 2025 Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey marks over 15 years of collaboration between the NFCC and The Harris Poll to measure the financial behaviors and attitudes of Americans.

Survey Methodology

The 2025 Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of NFCC from February 20 - March 17, 2025, among 2,010 U.S. adults ages 18 and older representative of the U.S. general population. Results for the general population consumer audience were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval; for the Gen Pop sample, the data is accurate to within +2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

About NFCC

Founded in 1951, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is the oldest nonprofit dedicated to improving people's financial well-being. With a nationwide network of NFCC Certified Credit Counselors serving 50 states and all U.S. territories, NFCC nonprofit counselors are financial advocates, empowering millions of consumers to take charge of their finances through one-on-one financial reviews that address credit card debt, loans, housing decisions, and overall money management. For expert guidance and advice, call (800) 388-2227 or visit www.nfcc.org.

About The Harris Poll

The Harris Poll is a global public opinion, analytics, and market research consultancy that strives to reveal society's authentic values to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. With a global research reach of more than ninety countries, Harris offers advisory services across sectors to world leaders, CEOs, and business decision-makers with state-of-the-art analytics, real-time software services, and practitioners in marketing, reputation, customer experience, trends, futures, and thought leadership/research-for-public release, The Harris Poll translates shifting social sentiment into a competitive marketplace advantage. Harris is a Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) company. www.theharrispoll.com.

¹ 5% of U.S. adults experiencing financial problems related to debt would turn to a professional non-profit credit counseling agency for assistance (source: 2025 Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey) multiplied by 262 million U.S. adults ages 18+ (source: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Current Population Survey) = 13.1 million

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SOURCE National Foundation For Credit Counseling

FAQ

What percentage of Americans feel financially set back according to NFCC's 2025 survey?

According to the 2025 Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey, 53% of U.S. adults feel that despite their efforts to get ahead financially, something always sets them back.

How many Americans would seek professional credit counseling for debt problems in 2025?

Only 5% of Americans (approximately 13.1 million adults) experiencing financial problems related to debt would turn to a professional nonprofit credit counseling agency for assistance.

What is the impact of government uncertainty on personal finances in 2025?

63% of Americans worry that partisanship and volatility in the U.S. government will negatively impact their personal finances in the coming year, according to the NFCC survey.

How many Americans are struggling with unexpected expenses in 2025?

48% of Americans feel they are constantly treading water financially, with any unexpected expense potentially causing financial distress, based on the NFCC and Harris Poll survey.

What percentage of Americans can achieve their long-term financial goals during economic uncertainty?

57% of Americans agree that the current economic uncertainty makes it impossible to achieve their long-term financial goals, according to the 2025 NFCC survey.