In the third quarter of last year, America’s top 1%, which includes millionaires, owned 31.7% of all U.S. wealth, the biggest share recorded since the Fed started tracking this data in 1989 (6). That translates to roughly $55 trillion in assets — about the same amount held by the bottom 90% combined.Wealth gains in 2025 were far from evenly distributed. Although markets rose overall, a larger share of those gains went to households at the very top — deepening an already pronounced concentration of wealth.As ...

“Because there are two adults, a cat and a dog, we are looking for more than a room, but one bedroom, two bedroom for free or below market rates,” they said, adding “If we can't find housing, we're going to have to leave and I don't know where we'll go.”“So we are currently surviving off of what savings we could get together before we fled the United States and that's not terribly much,” they said.Their financial situation is further complicated by their immigration status. Brigade said they and their partn ...

Americans are also concerned about the effects of tariffs on their wallets. Though the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is poised to boost tax refunds this year, the Tax Foundation estimates that for middle-income households, tariffs will erase 70% to 95% of those gains. For lower-income tax filers, the situation is even worse (4).Since 2020, costs have soared — the price of groceries is up 30%, electricity has risen 41% and car repairs have skyrocketed 63%. And while average weekly wages have risen 31% over the ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the financial challenges faced by retirees, emphasizing the need for adequate savings and planning for retirement expenses, particularly in light of Social Security benefits and healthcare costs. Group 1: Retirement Savings and Planning - The typical retired worker receives approximately $24,852 annually from Social Security benefits, combined with an additional $16,000 from personal savings, totaling $40,852, which may necessitate lifestyle adjustments for many retirees [1][6] - Financial experts recommend the 4% rule for retirement savings, suggesting that retirees withdraw 4% of their savings in the first year and adjust for inflation thereafter, aiming for a sustainable income over 30 years [3][4] - A study by Northwestern Mutual indicates that many Americans believe they need around $1.26 million saved for a comfortable retirement, highlighting a significant gap for individuals like Sam, who has $400,000 saved [4][5] Group 2: Retirement Expenses - The average annual expenditure for Americans aged 65 and older was reported to be $61,432 in 2024, indicating that relying solely on $40,852 could lead to a financial shortfall unless retirees live frugally [8] - To meet the average expenditure, individuals like Sam would need approximately $914,500 saved by retirement, factoring in Social Security benefits [8] - Healthcare costs are a significant consideration, with typical expenses for a 65-year-old projected to be $172,500 throughout retirement, emphasizing the importance of planning for these costs [9] Group 3: Investment Strategies - The article suggests diversifying retirement savings through various accounts, including gold IRAs, which can provide tax benefits and protect against market volatility [11][12] - Wealthfront offers a Cash Account with a competitive APY of 4.05%, which can help retirees grow their emergency funds while maintaining easy access to cash [19][20] - Automated investment platforms like Acorns can facilitate saving and investing habits, allowing individuals to grow their wealth effortlessly [22][23] Group 4: Seeking Professional Advice - The complexity of retirement planning may necessitate consulting with financial advisors who specialize in retirement strategies, helping individuals navigate budgeting and investment decisions [24][26] - Advisor.com connects users with registered investment advisors, providing a resource for individuals seeking tailored financial guidance [25][26]

Advisor.com does the heavy lifting for you, vetting advisors based on track record, client ratios and regulatory background. Plus, their network comprises fiduciaries, who are legally required to act in your best interests.This means finding reliable advisors is crucial — and that’s where Advisor.com can help. The platform connects you with an expert near you for free.Of course, hiring an advisor can be a lifelong commitment — one that might make or break your retirement.Don’t fall into the same trap. Consi ...

Of course, none of these paths are optimal — especially since one of the key rules of thumb for retirement readiness is to be debt-free, according to Cruze.With limited resources, many boomers may be forced to take on debt, rely heavily on Social Security, cut back their lifestyles or even return to work to maintain their quality of life.Meanwhile, a 2025 Northwestern Mutual research study found that the average “magic number” Americans think they will need for retirement is $1.26 million. With average savi ...

“It’s not an intellectual circus. It’s not that hard,” he added. “You’re living drama to drama, crisis to crisis, and you’re letting that stuff dictate your life rather than you dictating to that stuff.”“It sounds like you’re circling around the airport and refuse to land.”According to the survey, a quarter of workers who earn $100,000 or more per year say they’re living paycheck to paycheck. But what’s surprising is that those who made triple that much, like Maria, were even more cash-strapped: 41% of resp ...

In fact, this first-year loss could even be a permanent scar on your portfolio. That’s because even if the market normalizes and delivers a steady and reliable 7% annual return beyond this point, your portfolio would be worth only $2.75 million by the tenth year, still below your starting point.A loss of nearly three-quarters of a million in one year is not an easy hole to crawl out of.That’s already a loss of $600,000, but you’ve also withdrawn $120,000 during the year, so your nest egg has shrunk further ...

Advisor.com connects you with participating unaffiliated third-party registered investment advisors (RIAs) through its matching tool or provides personalized investment advice via its in-house wealth management service, Advisor Wealth Management.With the help of a qualified professional, like those found through Advisor.com , you can easily plan when, where, and how you want to retire.Research from T. Rowe Price found that individuals with a formal financial plan had two to four times more wealth when enter ...

But if you’re struggling to get started, there are tools for lowering the bar to get into investing.On an average middle-class income, many workers struggle to fund a retirement plan to begin with, let alone save a higher percentage of their salary than the typical worker.If you’re able to save a larger percentage of your income for retirement, then it may be that you're earning enough to move beyond the middle class.On that front, Americans on the whole have been doing better each year. Fidelity reported t ...