Many of us have experienced that gut-wrenching feeling when we realize the relationship we’re in and thought was “the one” turns out to be a total wash.
Sometimes the eventual severance comes down to a difference of morals or plain-old lost feelings. And sometimes it happens when dishonestly, like catfishing, is revealed.
But many people in the younger generations are navigating a new kind of deception: financial future faking. It’s when people make big promises to each other about sharing a home, lifestyle, or long-term financial security early in a relationship without any real intention or follow-through. This phenomenon is an offshoot of “future faking,” a psychological manipulation tactic recognized by major health care and psychological organizations.
Financial future faking is becoming a major factor in Gen Z and millennial divorces—and perhaps a reason why these younger generations marry less often or much later in life.
“I often see a lack of financial intimacy, transparency, and alignment as central factors in divorce,” celebrity divorce attorney Jackie Combs told Fortune. “When money becomes a source of leverage, or when expectations are never clearly articulated, it fractures communication, creates misalignment, and erodes trust.”
Combs, who is a family and matrimonial law attorney and partner at Los Angeles-based firm BlankRome, has 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 has been recognized both as a top family lawyer as well as an “Entertainment Business Visionary” by the Los Angeles Times.
The financial future faking trend is especially disheartening for Gen Z and millennials because they’re facing an inflationary period, soft job market, and a housing affordability crisis. So when those in relationships aren’t honest about money and shared goals, the entire lifestyle they’ve dreamed of could all come crashing down.
“Gen Z and millennials are particularly vulnerable to future financial faking for several reasons,” Combs warned. “They are dating in an era of unprecedented financial instability, defined by student debt, housing unaffordability, and delayed economic security.”
Beware of the dream wedding
Combs says another reason younger generations are so susceptible to this is because they were raised in households where money was rarely openly discussed, leaving them ill-equipped to ask direct financial questions or understand whether they’re financially aligned with their partner early on.
“This vulnerability is compounded by consumer culture and social media, which glamorizes aspirational lifestyles such as luxury weddings, ‘soft life’ aesthetics, and trad-wife narratives, without addressing the financial infrastructure required to support them,” she added.
The illusion of a dream wedding can also be a culprit. The wedding services market alone was valued at about $218 billion in 2024, according to BRC Wedding Service Global Market Report 2025, and is expected to grow to a whopping $362 billion by 2029. This underscores “how fantasy often outpaces financial reality,” Combs said.
To put it in perspective, the average cost of a wedding is an eye-popping $33,000, according to The Knot, or roughly half the average American salary. And that’s a relatively conservative average, considering weddings in certain markets—and for certain demographics and aesthetics—can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Still, it’s comforting and exciting to daydream about a luxurious wedding and lifestyle with your partner—although it can often lead to a trap.
“When someone offers hope through vague financial promises about the future, it can feel reassuring rather than deceptive, making financial future faking particularly effective,” Combs said.
How to spot financial future faking—and when to talk about money
Some of the common signs of financial future faking include making grand, but nonspecific financial promises, a lack of transparency about income, debt, or spending, and repeated delays in financial accountability or tangible process toward a financial goal, Combs said.
“Future promises sound like commitment, but are never structured in reality or a future partnership” is what financial future faking sounds like, she added.
But it’s difficult, and can sometimes feel confrontational, to question a partner—especially in a new relationship—about finances.
“Sincerity is reflected in alignment between words and behavior,” Combs said. “Vague optimism without structure, or a willingness to learn, is a red flag.”
Combs said it’s important to have financial discussions early on before significant emotional or financial commitments are made. That entails having discussions about money before moving in together, signing a lease, or sharing expenses.
Still, “that doesn’t mean sharing your 401k balance on the first date,” she explained. “It means asking thoughtful, value-based questions like, ‘if you won the [lottery] today, what would you do with the winnings?’ ‘What does financial security mean to you?’ or “What’s your biggest financial fear?’”
To get the most out of your conversation, Combs recommended “leading with curiosity and not judgment” because it can help show emotional vulnerability and build trust. And it’s also critical to have these conversations before any discussions about marriage or long-term commitment, because the former can often mean relinquishing financial autonomy.
Basically, if one person in a relationship doesn’t fully understand the financial or legal implications of marriage, they “give up control over their financial future,” Combs said.
“These conversations aren’t about forcing commitment,” she emphasized. “They’re about risk assessment and determining long-term compatibility.”
