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Over 65? Congratulations, You Own the Economy
Wall Street Journal ^ | Feb 19,2026 | Greg Ip

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 ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: elderly; financially; healthier; nlz
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To: Kenny Bania

:)


61 posted on 02/19/2026 6:48:03 PM PST by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait.)
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To: jcon40

There seems to be a movement to demonize boomers as of late. 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.


62 posted on 02/19/2026 6:48:38 PM PST by dznutz
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To: frank ballenger

There are always opportunities in stock market. My biggest profits were made during 2021-2022 years.


63 posted on 02/19/2026 6:48:47 PM PST by Bobbyvotes (Work is worship says Bhagavad Geeta. Instead of praying do work and get richer.)
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To: frank ballenger

There are always opportunities in stock market. My biggest profits were made during 2021-2022 years.


64 posted on 02/19/2026 6:49:21 PM PST by Bobbyvotes (Work is worship says Bhagavad Geeta. Instead of praying do work and get richer.)
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To: Fuzz

Hope so because that stuff is beyond me

😕


65 posted on 02/19/2026 6:49:29 PM PST by Salamander ( Please visit my profile page to help me go home again. https://www.givesendgo.com/GCRRDa)
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To: Brian Griffin

Good points. The young should try to learn what the elderly did to become successful. I think younger people are too busy telling their elders what to think and do, to ask any questions. One problem with thinking you know everything is that it gets in the way of learning.

I’ve earned my right to be crotchety. :)


66 posted on 02/19/2026 6:52:35 PM PST by ChessExpert (Infidels of the world unite against the evil that is Islam.)
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To: maddog55

It beats the alternative.


67 posted on 02/19/2026 6:53:31 PM PST by ChessExpert (Infidels of the world unite against the evil that is Islam.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

I just made it to 65. No, I don’t have scads of money in my 401k, but I’m better off than lots of others who have not been able to save. Maybe I could get a fancy wealth advisor to help me make more money. See, this is how we think. How can we do better? Not blame it on mom and dad.


68 posted on 02/19/2026 6:57:26 PM PST by virgil (The evil that men do lives after them )
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To: Presbyterian Reporter

“My antenna goes up when only two numbers are compared.”

Good point. It only takes two points to establish a trend. Which two points? Well, what trend to you want?


69 posted on 02/19/2026 6:59:32 PM PST by ChessExpert (Infidels of the world unite against the evil that is Islam.)
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To: jcon40
Maybe the elderly are the last generation that actually believed in the American Dream. The new guys can't even work a 40 hour week, can't take criticism and avoid responsibility and accountability.

The only thing they do well is blame others for their shortcomings.

70 posted on 02/19/2026 7:01:57 PM PST by pfflier
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To: jcon40

One of my economics professors said that if you want to visit your rich relatives, visit your children. Compare the computers of today to your first computer. Compare today’s cars to your first car. The young people would be devastated if somehow they were sent back to 1960, 1970, or 1980.


71 posted on 02/19/2026 7:06:11 PM PST by ChessExpert (Infidels of the world unite against the evil that is Islam.)
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To: ChessExpert

‘ Good points. The young should try to learn what the elderly did to become successful.’

They have.

They’ve realized that government programs and incentives from post ww2 created the middle class that provided them with a more successful result.

Unfortunately those who benefited from those programs think they’ve somehow earned it.


72 posted on 02/19/2026 7:07:20 PM PST by Fuzz (..)
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To: jcon40

Yes and doctors better listen up. Don’t count on us being willing to croak just to satisfy you. Quit being too lazy to cure people. We want to be cured and to live long and if you don’t work to do it you are fired.


73 posted on 02/19/2026 7:09:25 PM PST by yldstrk
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To: Myrddin

I am 88 yrs. old. I have a bank account, no debts, drive an old car & am widowed. I live as cheaply as possible & am anxious for little. I do miss some of my older passions such as motorcycling, but realize what it could mean at my age, so I don’t really miss it a lot. I live simply & am not anxious for much, but look forward to the day when I meet my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ & all that will mean. Old age can mean that you don’t worry so much for things that used to concern you deeply.


74 posted on 02/19/2026 7:11:11 PM PST by oldtech
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To: dfwgator

I’m sure Roger Daltrey is pretty well set financially.


75 posted on 02/19/2026 7:11:37 PM PST by Disambiguator
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To: yldstrk

If you think your doctors want you to die, find another one.

And if you think you are headed to an eternal paradise, what’s the concern?


76 posted on 02/19/2026 7:12:07 PM PST by Fuzz (..)
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To: jcon40

Don’t get mad kids. I told you to go to school if you didn’t have a job. I told you to learn something useful. I told you not to do drugs and not to wear your pants around your knees. I told you to get a beater car that didn’t need a cosigner.

When I was young I did farm labor and seasonal work. I sweated in the hot sun along with a bunch of Mexican people and East Indians. I went to school to learn about computers and I worked every day when I had a job. I lost a job or two but I didn’t give up and go on drugs. I had to make some sacrifices and I didn’t spend my money on stupid shit. I bought things at thrift stores and I used furniture that was given to me. I never had a really nice car. I also worked on all my cars when they needed it.

I admit that liberals have made it difficult by screwing up the education system and making everything unaffordable but if you don’t do drugs and live a good life you won’t be hurt as bad by their policies. Liberals love it when you do drugs because they can control you. That’s why drugs are illegal. If you do them they can control you. Also the crap they put on TV is not good for you.


77 posted on 02/19/2026 7:16:36 PM PST by webheart (Notice how I said all of that without any hyphens, and only complete words?)
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To: I want the USA back

I am a boomer and there seem to be a lot of bad boomers Boomers who vote dem to grab stuff back for themselves and kick the nation’s debt into the future for our kids and grandkids to deal with. Boomers who are the main attendees of the No Kings protests.

I wish problem boomers who just enjoy what they have and stop causing trouble.


78 posted on 02/19/2026 7:20:54 PM PST by angry elephant (Been with Trump since huge 2016 Washington state rally in May.)
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To: Fuzz

You try dealing with these doctors who think old people should shove off.


79 posted on 02/19/2026 7:21:24 PM PST by yldstrk
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To: oldtech

>> I live simply & am not anxious for much, but look forward to the day when I meet my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ & all that will mean.

You are abundantly wealthy! And wise, too. Blessings, and Thank You for your example!


80 posted on 02/19/2026 7:22:09 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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