Core Insights - The top 20% of Americans earned at least $175,700 in 2024, significantly higher than the median household income of $83,730, indicating a growing wealth gap [1] Group 1: Financial Strategies for High Earners - Building an emergency fund of three to six months' worth of expenses is essential, especially for high earners with larger bills; for example, a monthly expenditure of $8,000 necessitates a safety net of $24,000 to $48,000 [3] - Utilizing liquid options for emergency funds, such as high-yield savings or money market accounts, can yield returns of 2.5% to 5% while maintaining accessibility [4] - Maximizing contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) offers multiple tax benefits, including tax-deductible contributions and tax-free growth, allowing for strategic withdrawals for past medical expenses [5][6][7] Group 2: Retirement and Investment Contributions - Consistently investing 10% to 15% of income in 401(k) and Roth IRA accounts is recommended, with an emphasis on contributing at least up to the employer's match, which averages 4.8% of employee pay [8] - High earners can utilize mega backdoor contributions to exceed standard annual 401(k) limits, allowing for additional contributions from after-tax dollars into Roth accounts [8]