Here's a possible archetype (constructed from several actual individuals I have worked with):
1972 - Smoked two pounds of weed down at the University
1975 - BSEE degree, hired by up and coming Silicon Valley firm
1976 - Blew $10000 on coke
1978 - Met dingbat stoner wench at fern bar, engaged following week, married one month later. Bought West San Jose rancher using creative financing.
1980 - Bought Beemer and new bong, baby arrives.
1981 - First espresso machine, Mexican Riveria vacation, second Beemer
1982 - Upgrade to buy a pro-McMansion in Almaden Valley, baby number two.
1983 - Caught drunken and stoned wife cheating, the big D, probate sale of proto McMansion
1984 - Met dingbat golddigger yuppie in power bar, see 1978 for further details.
1985 - Baby number 3, invest in junk bonds and S&Ls, vacation in Vegas.
1986 - Upgrade to McMansion in Pleasanton
1987 - Take out 2nd to buy ski cabin and boat.
1988 - The two school aged kids now going to private school. Ex sues for increased payments.
1989 - Baby number 4, busted by cops for DUI and possession of pot and coke.
1990 - High tech co goes chapter 11, ex gets restraining order, current wife talks you into swinging.
1991 - 1999 - A blur of kid activities, house upgrades, expensive vacations, high tech gadgets, high end clothes, tax liens, financial misteps, refinancing, and treadmill runnin.
2000 - The strain of supporting 4 kids, two of them at expensive private Universities, the latest and greatest cars, boats, clothes, in places, and coolness, grows. Stock market crash to boot ....
2001 - present - Even more of the same, and now, with a 40 year debt consolidation mortgage and no retirement savings, the final bubble looms .....
;)
That's all an excellent, excellent plan up until 1980, when it begins to fall apart.
That about sums up a lot of them.