Over 65? Congratulations, You Own the Economy

Wall Street Journal ^ | Feb 19,2026 | Greg Ip

[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—

[metmom]

I get the uneasy feeling it means, kill the old people and take their stuff.

That does seem to be the prevailing mentality.

[cherry]

Worked hard til age 67..paid evert dang tax faithfully...no free money for this household..no free food or camps or college or anything...not feeling guilty one iota.

[metmom]

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.

Preach it.

[metmom]

100%

[NoLibZone]

Democrats are outraged that after 65 years they haven’t been able to successfully strip you of all your assets.

Attacking boomers is the coming thing to increase their coffers

[metmom]

The boomers bought up everything and just sat on it. The number of homes and building just sitting empty for years around here is insane and getting to be a public health concern. Some day they will do something with it and...

BS.

If you're going to complain about someone buying stuff up, blame Blackrock and the Chinese.

Housing shortage? Thank the democrats and their illegal alien invasion.

[metmom]

Ditto

[metmom]

Or stick them in a car with a manual transmission.

[aquila48]

“The elderly are physically and financially healthier than ever. So why do their needs keep taking priority over younger generations?

What does that mean?”

What they mean is, why should they be allowed to keep what they earned through hard work, saving and investing?

That assets belong to everybody, dontcha know?

[NoLibZone]

Increasingly Democrats are coming around to the Republican desire to see private decision of Social Security!

[DeplorablePaul]

CA is toying with a 5% tax on the net worth of billionaires. Boomers are next.

[Political Junkie Too]

Teresa Ghilarducci

-PJ

[Does so]

Those “hard earned savings” are increasinglyy owned by widows...

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

My own 401(k) currently has better returns than the money I “give” to SS.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

She was great. She prompted me to take the money I was putting into my 401(k) and use it to pay extra principal on my mortgage until I ascertained her plan wouldn’t happen. She was one reason that I got to own my home free and clear, except for property tax. Thanks, Theresa!

[9YearLurker]

Right. And in America we are individuals, not necessarily parts of groups.

[yldstrk]

No, I don’t know your age and the comment is about doctors, who I hold for the most part in low regard.

[Fresh Wind]

It happened in 1933, it could certainly happen again.

[notdownwidems]

We have ‘the greatest economy the world has ever seen’ in spite of those government programs, NOT because of them!

[MayflowerMadam]

“The younger generations that hate on boomers and blame them for their failures in life can pound sand.”

And while complaining, those “kids” probably are living with boomers who have spoiled them rotten.