Started in the Upper Middle Class straight out of college. Owned two major hotel parking lot concessions.
Moved into the Middle Class in 2000-2001 and 2008, after all my high risk technology stocks got crushed.
Moved into the Lower Middle Class when I started drawing Social Security and dropped out of the work force at age 70.
As a professor, I never made it out of the middle class, but I knew that would happen going in. I forced myself to save almost 15% of my income each year, knowing things would be tough after I retired. Those savings is what keeps me slightly above the poverty level now. I’m not complaining as that was my choice. I had summers off every year and I chose that over a higher income.