GEN MOST STRESSED OUT?--MILLENNIALS.

• Position: YOUR LIFE

Americans in their early 20s to late 30s--the millennials--came in at a 5.4 stress level on a scale of 1-10, higher than the American average of 4.9, reports a study by the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.

Among the things keeping them up at night are predictions of being the first generation that will be less well off than their parents--and that includes retirements that potentially will be less secure. No longer do millennials have the pensions to look forward to in retirement like their parents and grandparents before them, and no longer do they have confidence that Social Security will help at least supplement some of their retirement income.

"Every generation has had its own set of trials and adversaries to conquer," says David Rosell, author of Keep Climbing: A Millennial Guide to Financial Planning. "However, today's generation of young adults faces a uniquely challenging environment, and saving money for retirement is a luxury that many just can't afford."

He offers some tips to millennials for improving the odds their retirements will be a bit less stressful:

Start saving and investing early. "If you start investing $2,000 a year for...