Wells Fargo Study Finds Veterans Report Greater Career Satisfaction, Financial Confidence and Optimism About AI

Veteran-support programs and skills-based hiring each influence employer choice for 82% of veteran respondents.

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11/05/2026 - 03:01 AM EST

National survey examines veterans’ perspectives on career progress, financial well-being and the future of artificial intelligence

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A new Wells Fargo survey, conducted by Morning Consult, finds veteran respondents report stronger outcomes than non-veterans across career satisfaction, financial confidence and readiness for an AI-enabled workplace. The research also identifies a continuing challenge: nearly half of veterans say the transition from military to civilian life was difficult.

Wells Fargo Military Veterans Survey graphic featuring two uniformed U.S. military service members walking outside a Wells Fargo location. The survey highlights career satisfaction, financial confidence, artificial intelligence and employer support. The online survey, conducted by Morning Consult Oct. 1–11, 2026, included 4,000 U.S. adults: 2,000 veterans and 2,000 non-veterans.

Of those surveyed, veterans are more likely than non-veterans to be very satisfied with their career progress (44% vs. 32%), very confident about achieving financial security and peace of mind (35% vs. 21%), and optimistic about how AI will affect their future (58% vs. 46%).

“Veterans bring resilience, leadership and adaptability that continue to create value long after military service ends,” said Sean Passmore, Head of Enterprise Military and Veteran Initiatives, Neurodiversity, and Disability Employment Strategy for Wells Fargo. “Our research shows veterans report strong career satisfaction and financial confidence and view themselves as ready to embrace emerging technology. At the same time, the findings reinforce the important role employers can play in helping veterans translate their military experience into meaningful civilian careers.”

Veterans report stronger career progress

Veteran respondents report greater satisfaction with their careers and place more emphasis on leadership and mentorship:

44% are very satisfied with their career progress, compared with 32% of non-veterans.
36% define career success through leadership opportunities, compared with 23% of non-veterans.
40% say a mentor positively influenced their career, versus 28% of non-veterans.
81% are at least somewhat satisfied with their careers, versus 71% of non-veterans.

At the same time, veterans are more likely to report difficulty of past experiences translating into civilian job qualifications (16% vs. 7%), pointing to an opportunity for employers to strengthen skills-based hiring and veteran career pathways.

Veterans show greater financial confidence

Among those who consider each part of financial success, veterans surveyed report greater confidence in achieving several financial goals:

35% are very confident they will achieve financial security and peace of mind, compared with 21% of non-veterans.
48% are confident about leaving a financial legacy, compared with 34% of non-veterans.
52% are very confident about achieving homeownership, versus 40% of non-veterans.
21% report a great deal of financial stress, compared with 27% of non-veterans.
33% say their finances are better than they were a year ago, versus 28% of non-veterans.
30% are very confident they will reach their long-term financial goals, versus 25% of non-veterans.

Veterans are more optimistic about AI

Veterans also report greater optimism and confidence related to artificial intelligence and workplace technology:

58% are optimistic about how AI will affect their future, compared with 46% of non-veterans.
48% believe AI will have a positive impact on society, versus 35% of non-veterans.

And among employed respondents:

32% are very confident using AI tools at work, compared with 22% of non-veterans.
37% say their employer provides AI training, versus 24% of non-veterans.

Employers have an opportunity to support veteran talent

Nearly half of surveyed veterans (49%) say their transition from military to civilian life was difficult. Veterans who experienced a difficult transition report lower career satisfaction, less financial confidence and greater concern about job security than veterans whose transitions were easier.

Veterans also identified employer practices that influence where they choose to work, either a great deal or a fair amount:

82% cite programs supporting veterans and military spouses.
82% cite skills-based hiring practices.
75% cite apprenticeships or on-the-job training opportunities.

Competitive pay and purpose both matter: 59% of veteran respondents say competitive pay is very important when selecting an employer, while 53% say they would accept lower pay for work that feels more meaningful.

Wells Fargo's commitment to veterans

For more than 170 years, Wells Fargo has supported veterans, service members and military families, with a continued focus on helping military-connected individuals successfully navigate life’s transitions. Today, that commitment includes creating pathways to meaningful careers, providing financial education and resources, investing in workforce development and supporting programs that help veterans translate their military experience into civilian opportunities and prepare for the future of work.

About the survey

This survey was conducted online by Morning Consult from October 1 to 11, 2026, among a total of 4,000 U.S. adults from the general public ages 18-65: 2,000 veterans and 2,000 non-veterans. Results are weighted by gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, region, and employment status to reflect a representative sample of each respective audience. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points. Differences cited are statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $2.3 trillion in assets. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 38 on Fortune's 2026 rankings of America's largest corporations. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellsfargo

News Release Category: WF-V