Most Americans and Canadians say they lack financial fulfillment

Very few adults in the United States and Canada say money leaves them feeling truly fulfilled. Just 16% of Americans and 12% of Canadians fit Edward Jones and Gallup’s definition, a standard that measures far more than income or net worth and captures whether people feel secure, emotionally steady and able to live in line with their values.

The survey, fielded from March 20 to April 6 among 5,075 U.S. adults age 21 and older and from March 25 to April 3 among 2,117 Canadian adults age 21 and older, built its fulfillment score from 37 questions. People classified as financially fulfilled gave positive responses to at least 30 of those items, while financially stressed respondents gave positive answers to 10 or fewer.

The middle of the distribution was where most people landed. In the United States, 51% were financially conflicted, meaning they were making some progress but still living with persistent strain. Another 32% were financially stressed. Edward Jones said that means 83% of U.S. adults are experiencing financial stress, strain or uncertainty. In Canada, 41% were financially stressed, a sharper squeeze than in the United States.

The numbers show a disconnect between how households feel and how they describe their balance sheets. In the first quarter of 2026, 63% of Americans said they often or always felt gratitude about their finances in the prior 30 days, but 36% said they felt stress. Even so, 55% said their finances were getting worse, while 46% rated their current situation as excellent or good. That split helps explain why headline indicators can look steady while households still feel stuck.

Gallup says Americans most often define financial fulfillment as freedom to pursue passions, a better life for themselves and their families, and security against unforeseen events. Canadians tend to put more weight on relief from financial stress and worry. The difference points to the same core problem through two national lenses: people want more than higher paychecks. They want breathing room, lower debt pressure and enough savings to feel in control.

Edward Jones said the findings fit a broader argument that fulfillment has consequences beyond personal budgeting. People who feel more fulfilled tend to report better mental and physical health, stronger relationships and deeper community connections. Penny Pennington, Edward Jones managing partner, said the gap between money and meaning is where real progress can be made, and that helping people close it is essential to building long-term confidence, resilience and opportunity.

The company said it has more than 20,000 financial advisors, serves more than 9 million clients and had $2.5 trillion in client assets under care as of Dec. 31, 2025, with branches in 68% of U.S. counties and all Canadian provinces. Edward Jones also said 61% of Canadian investors were optimistic about their financial futures in its 2025 research, while 88% of Canadian advisers said they offer financial coaching, underscoring how central this issue has become to long-term financial planning.