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 ...
It’s good to be old 👍👍👍
I worked my life for what I have. I’ll probably work some more before I’m done. This just sounds like some evil commie envy whining. They need to look in the mirror for answers.
And this is news?
-PJ
How ridiculous. Screw the WSJ.
My sister and her husband had three cats.
One was named Thumper, because he had six toes.
I played a game with Thumper. I won every time. Thumper walked off.
My brother-in-law said Thumper had to win once in a while or he’d walk away.
“I seem to remember my wife and I paying $20,000 per year (including the employer “contribution”) in Social Security taxes to support our “Greatest Generation” parents who’d never paid diddly into the system. At that very time, we were also paying $17,000/yr in daycare costs (two babies). Interest rates on the house I’d built were 8.5% fixed.
And they’re complaining?”
Most of them are dead ...
So how old are you? Wife and I are 71. Married 52 years. We paid a shxt ton in taxes but we also invested and are living quite well. As for the greatest generation they deserve nothing but respect and everything we could possibly give them, because without them you’d be speaking German if your family lifeline wasn’t terminated.
Quit your bitching and be responsible for yourself.
Also hunting,fishing and Fixing Things.
“ The elderly are physically and financially healthier than ever. So why do their needs keep taking priority over younger generations?
What does that mean?”
It means that because baby boomers are collecting social security from having paid into it involuntarily for the past 50 years, they should walk around beating breast, gnashing teeth
That social security started in 1935 and the first boomer was an infant ten years into this pyramid scheme, it also means that the pundits I hear b ing about it cannot do math
I have paid hundreds dog thousands into SS. I would rather have invested it myself and not have to take more involuntary donations
FDR signed this socialist crap into law.
My great aunt- who along with her husband did very well- would tell me that in 1935 when this came in to being she was horrified at how loathsome and unwise the democrats were, that this would not end well
Just an observation, but young people don’t work as hard.
We keep pouring resources into making the elderly comfortable and happy when the economy’s pressure points lie elsewhere.”
First … no one’s pouring any resources to make the “elderly comfortable” …. Unless, of course, those elderly happen to be ILLEGAL INVADERS.
Blame the illegal invaders who cause the “pressure points” … and, blame the libs who fight for this.
Mr. & Mrs. Rugrat Maker are ahead of me by about $100,000.
Changing the rules of the game at this point would be unfair.
Agreed. And IMHO, it means the paper is trying to play to a younger generation to build up a new market as their older readers age out. And when it comes to money news, few things get young people's attention more than blaming older folks. It's not that worthless degree keeping you from getting paid well, it's that old geezer who refuses to retire. It's not restrictive housing policies lowering supply that puts home prices out of reach, it's those old people living the entitled life in the homes you want.
Same here.
I should have said “on the average.”
And other news sites say the same. For example, Moneywise:
"...older adults are now the fastest-growing segment of America’s homeless population..."
“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”. Is there a girl named Svetlana?
“”””people 70 and over controlled roughly 39% of all equities and mutual funds owned by households, compared with 22% in 2007””””
I see a RED FLAG.
Why did the WSJ use 2007 to make the comparison?
I would like to see the over 70 aged people’s ownership over time.
What are the numbers for each year since 1990?
My antenna goes up when only two numbers are compared.
“but young people don’t work as hard”
My neighbor Mark works from dawn to dusk nearly every day.
About the only time he relaxes is with co-workers at his pool.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.