Posted on 02/19/2026 5:30:12 PM PST by jcon40
The elderly are physically and financially healthier than ever. So why do their needs keep taking priority over younger generations?
Demographics, rising profits and soaring asset values have together wrought a quiet transformation in the American economy. Much of it is now in the hands of the elderly.
As of the third quarter of last year, people 70 and over controlled roughly 39% of all equities and mutual funds owned by households, compared with 22% in 2007, according to Federal Reserve data. Their share of net worth—assets minus debts—
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
“I’ll be 70 in August. I just retired. I hardly feel “elderly”. “
Good for you man, that is truly great to hear! I’m in my mid 50s, active, and still working and SAVING! I do want to make sure I have enough go-go years to enjoy in retirement; a topic a dwell on more and more as the years go by.
I’m targeting 66/67 timeline, especially having a wife that’s a few years younger than I. Were anyone to view me as having a net worth that seems larger than most, that was by design; I worked and saved consistently over a 28 year career - EVERY paycheck!
The goal should be to have the needed wealth to live and enjoy as you please, while having ZERO reliance on the Social Security scheme. If it’s still there, it’s the proverbial cherry on the cake!
Enjoy your retirement freedom FRiend!
Shouldn’t the comparisons be in terms not of percentages but in terms of absolute standard of living?
"Those" doesn’t sound like government programs to me.
-PJ
Who?
The “elderly” as Greg Ip calls us.....
We built this wealth. Deal with it.
Hand them a wrench and a screwdriver and let's see what is more handy at fixing broken things.
“Quit your bitching and be responsible for yourself.”
Well said.
Time to start hating the elderly. 😆
Your point?
“There seems to be a movement to demonize boomers as of late.:
You are on to something.
“The younger generations that hate on boomers and blame them for their failures in life can pound sand. Nobody ever gave me anything in life, I worked for what I have.”
Ditto.
“Many live on their monthly Social Security or Pension.”
Many do that because they have been savers their entire lives. Many have retirement accounts and other investments worth millions, but they feel no desire to spend it, they save and prepare for tomorrow.
Those younger generations who have not yet built wealth will inherit this same wealth one day, and hopefully, build their own beforehand.
Unnecessarily divisive comments in the article; Wealth is earned and built over time, the logical conclusion to that reality is elder wealth, is it not?
>> Hand them a wrench and a screwdriver and let’s see what is more handy at fixing broken things.
That IS a problem for them, isn’t it?
“They’ve realized that government programs and incentives from post ww2 created the middle class that provided them with a more successful result.”
Since you know it all, except maybe how to make money, tell me about the government programs and incentives that benefitted me. Specifics. We’ll see how well you do.
Shocking the people who worked the longest tend to have accumulated the most wealth…. Shocking
Good for you. I say that sincerely.
At some point, the main thing you miss is your health. Something the young have but do not appreciate.
This isn’t a big deal because people eventually die and their real estate, stocks, bonds, etc will be transferred to other people.
If the new heirs are good asset managers, prosperity will continue, if not they’ll lose it to people who are.
This article is:
“Much Ado About Nothing”
RE: Go hide under your bed.
Pathetic Boomer.
Funny coincidence. Under the bed. My father (wounded in combat in the Philippines in WWII by a shell fragment hitting his skull. He had to have a metal plate-—1944 style) and my late wife’s father (stationed in Europe for WWII) both had loaded rifles under their beds, just in case.
Each named the 1943 Detroit Race Riots as a reason to protect their families. Heard later a number of fathers did that.
As to my bed, incredibly, due to a mixup I got delivery of a
wrong bed set that is now leaning against a hall and a bedroom wall and my old bed has to be picked up Friday—if it works out. Last delivery also had the truck break down on the way so another day added to the wait. Due to a technicality I had to refrain from refusing the delivery in order to not have to pay hundreds myself for pickup and new delivery. They wouldn’t put it back on the truck.
I do not intend to hide under the bed-—whenever the bed gets here. 🛏️
Boomers found themselves at the peak of the cycle, we worked hard but we were sold out. In a sense, we deserve the people who represented us. It’s sad to say, but that’s the facts. We trusted too much...
More ageism and age baiting.
Nothing like trying to further divide the country by pitting one generation against another.
Young people need to realize they will not be young forever. Some day they will be us and have their kids and grandkids turn against them, like they have done to us.
Then payback will be a B!+c#.
And young people can’t figure out why their parents don’t want to leave anything for their kids or won’t sell their homes to accommodate these ingrates.
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