Core Insights - Many Gen X middle-class families are experiencing stagnant wealth growth despite meeting traditional financial milestones such as homeownership and retirement accounts [1][3] - Everyday financial habits may be hindering their ability to build wealth [1] Group 1: Financial Strain from Caregiving - Gen Xers often prioritize financial support for aging parents and children's education over their own retirement savings, leading to delayed contributions [3][4] - Strategies such as using Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for parental medical expenses and 529 plans for college funding can help rebalance caregiving costs [4] - Automating retirement contributions before allocating funds for caregiving is recommended to prevent retirement savings from being neglected [4][5] Group 2: Debt Challenges - Gen Xers have the highest median debt across generations, largely due to high-interest credit cards and lingering student loans, with the collective credit card balance in the U.S. reaching $1.2 trillion as of Q2 2025 [6] - This debt creates a cycle where funds that could be invested for retirement are instead used to service debt [6][7] - The "Avalanche Plus" strategy is suggested to manage debt effectively, which involves consolidating credit card debt onto a 0% APR balance transfer card and focusing on paying down high-interest debt [7]