Americans say this factor may be an even bigger sign of success than wealth

Maybe you can buy happiness, after all.

About 59% of Americans considered the highest measure of success to be happiness – and being able to spend money on the things or experiences that brought joy, according to a report by Empower, a financial services company.

People in the study were asked to select the top three types of success they valued most. Free time to pursue personal passions and physical well-being were the next highest measures, with 35% each.

Only 27% of respondents said they considered wealth to be the highest measure of success.

Americans in the study said hard work, talent, connections and luck had the biggest impact on financial success.

About half of Americans said they felt less financially successful than others. Nearly 60% of the respondents said financial success is harder to achieve for their generation than other generations. This sentiment was highest among millennials (69%) and lowest for baby boomers (49%).

Both millennial and Gen Z respondents were the most optimistic about the possibility of achieving financial success in their lifetime.

The study also highlighted barriers to success, with about 35% of participants saying the economy was a hurdle and 30% identifying income instability as a top factor.

More: ‘They can’t buy into that American Dream’: How younger workers are redefining success

Other top barriers included not setting clear financial goals and delaying financial planning.

Empower surveyed 2,200 Americans ages 18 and older in September for the study.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Americans say this factor may be bigger sign of success than wealth