With 45 million Americans contributing to the $1.6 trillion in student loan debt in the U.S., the impact felt by education expenses is widespread, especially when it comes to long-term financial planning. According to a new survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of TD Ameritrade, education spending is the No. 1 financial disruptor among Americans. One bright spot for financially disrupted Americans — those who have experienced an event or situation that had a negative effect on their financial plans for the long-term or retirement — is that they feel more prepared in 2019 than five years ago.

“Today, many young Americans are struggling to save for the future while paying off their past,” said Tom Butch, managing director of retail distribution at TD Ameritrade. “Between paying down student loans, contributing to retirement and saving for their children’s college, they are striking a delicate balance to set themselves on a path to long-term financial security.”

Education spending is the leading financial disruptor among Americans in 2019, and of the surveyed disruptors, it’s also the only one to experience growth in the last five years. In 2014, loss of employment and poor investment/business performance significantly outstripped education as sources of disruption.