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☆ There's a new reason people feel bad about the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewIt's official: The labor market vibes are not great. It's the largest tumble in sentiment since August 2021 — and workers' experiences with and expectations for the labor market are partially to blame. A weaker jobs market — although one that's still historically strong — is warping Americans' beliefs about the economy. Even so, though, it'll take a little while for new monetary policy to trickle into daily life and the labor market. Are you having trouble finding a job, or is the job market making you feel bad?

Persons: —, It's, Jerome Powell, Wells, Shannon Seery Grein, Jeremiah Kohl, Dana M, Peterson, it'll, Julia Pollak Organizations: Service, Conference, Business, Federal Reserve, Conference Board, Conference Board's, New York Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer, Survey, Labor

☆ Gen Z Women Are Getting Into Personal Finance Tips to Invest and Save
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Emilie Friedlander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

These women talk openly about being rich and wanting to help other women become rich too. She also launched a platform called Treasury, which says it has helped women invest over $80 million in the stock market. "I couldn't really find anyone who was teaching money the way that I wanted to learn it," Sacks said. And it's probably getting really smart about how you save money, taking the money that you are saving and investing it and building wealth." Young women, on the other hand, are turning to more tried-and-true tactics.

Persons: Dave Ramsey, Tori Dunlap, It's, Dunlap, Dow Jones, Simran Kaur, Rachel Rodgers, Z, Kaur, Zers, Haley Sacks, Sacks, Cartier, Kylie Jenner, Suze Orman, it's, they're, Rita Soledad Fernández Paulino, Leah Sheppard, Gen Zers, —, Rita Soledad Fernández Paulino Sacks, Kyla Scanlon, Scanlon, aren't, Fernández Paulino, weren't Organizations: Economic, Institute, Washington State, Carson College of Business, GameStop, Fidelity Investments, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances Locations: Tacoma , Washington, Dunlap, Instagram, Zealand, York, California

☆ Gen X is feeling the negative effects of inflation more than any other generation
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Gen X is feeling the sting of inflation more than other generations. A new TransUnion study shows Gen X is planing the greatest cutbacks in discretionary spending. AdvertisementThis comes at a time when many Gen Xers are already feeling financial pressure. Gen X feels less optimistic about money than other generationsGen X also has a more dire view of the economy in general. Additionally, more than one-third of Gen X respondents anticipate canceling subscriptions and memberships, and one in four plan to cancel or reduce digital services.

Persons: Gen Xers, —, Xers, TransUnion, Dynata, X —, X, Gen X, Gen, Charlie Wise Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve Bank, Business, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Boomers Locations: TransUnion

☆ Millennial wealth is booming. It turns out avocado toast didn't tank them after all.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

That rate of rapid wealth growth has never happened before in the data series' history, per the analysis, and it comes after wealth growth remained relatively stagnant for young Americans pre-pandemic. This data, as the authors of the CAP analysis note, suggests that wealth gains weren't just reserved for the top-earning millennials since both median and average wealth grew. "This suggests that the strong wealth growth for younger Americans is broad-based and not the result of strong growth of a handful of wealthy younger households," the authors write. As that report notes, financial assets were a major component of younger Americans' wealth growing. "We need to keep this robust labor market going and Congress needs to set its sights on younger Americans' greatest affordability challenge: housing," Duke said.

Persons: —, Gen X, Brendan Duke, Christian Weller, X, millennials, Duke, BI's Noah Sheidlower Organizations: Service, Center for American Progress, Federal, Business, Boomers, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, millennials, Liberty Street, Federal Reserve Bank of New Locations: millennials, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

In particular, the researchers looked at a group dubbed "disconnected youth," who aren't working and are also not in school. As of 2022, disconnected youth comprised 13% of this age group; that share has been rising overall since 1998, according to calculations from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. AdvertisementYounger Americans are facing stagnant incomesThe Dallas Fed found that, even after a post-pandemic dip, the rate of disconnected youth has increased since the end of the 1990s. AdvertisementAnd the number of young adults with no income has been on the rise; in 1990, around one in five young adults said they had no wage or salary income. Are you or were you a "disconnected youth," or supporting one?

Persons: —, Louis, Gen, Zers, Louis Fed's, Louis Fed, William M, Rodgers III, Rodgers Organizations: Service, Louis Federal Reserve's Institute for Economic Equity, Business, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Dallas Fed, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer, Louis Fed, National Health, Blacks, Louis, Louis Fed's Institute for Economic Equity

☆ Union households tend to have over $100,000 more in wealth than nonunion families, Federal Reserve data shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank, looked at just how much better union workers are faring. By analyzing the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, CAP found that in 2022, union households held $338,482 in median wealth. Black, nonunion households have a median household wealth of $61,500; meanwhile, Black union households hold around $164,6000 in median household wealth. Union membership rates have declined for decades, reaching a record low of 10% in 2023. The researcher VanHeuvelen previously told BI that the decline in union membership would be like if the wage premium for going to college disappeared.

Persons: it's, Zachary Parolin, Tom VanHeuvelen, VanHeuvelen Organizations: Service, American Progress, Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, CAP, Business, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Statistics, of Labor Statistics, Research, Bocconi University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Workers, —, United Auto Workers, UPS Teamsters, SAG Locations: United States

☆ Just over half of Americans over the age of 65 are earning under $30,000 a year, and it shows how stark the retirement crisis is
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Many older Americans are financially vulnerable, with over half living on incomes of $30,000 or less a year. And, as Sanders' report notes, about 10% of older Americans live in poverty, according to an analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Without Social Security income, around 38% of Americans 65 and older would be living below the poverty line. Even so, America's Social Security benefits lag behind many other wealthy countries; benefits amount to, on average, 51.8% of workers' earnings across the OECD. All of that comes as older Americans see their adult children leaning on them financially, as Gen Zers and millennials weather their own economic storms.

Persons: Bernie Sanders, —, Sanders, Zers, I'm, Jane, you'll Organizations: Service, Health, Education, Labor, Wall, Survey, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finance, Budget, Security, OECD, Social Security Locations: Japan

☆ How much wealth you need to be in the top 1% in countries around the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Americans need a minimum net worth of $5.8 million to be in the top 1% of US wealth. The number of ultra-high net worth individuals globally is expected to surge by 28% by 2028. AdvertisementAmericans need at least $5.8 million in net worth to be in the top 1% of wealth in their country — less than half of the 1% cutoff for Monaco. Wealth as measured by Knight Frank includes investments, cash, and assets such as residences. In 2022, the median net worth for the top 10th percentile was $2.56 million, whereas net worth was just $14,000 for those in the bottom 20th percentile.

Persons: —, Knight Frank, Liam Bailey, Frank, Bailey Organizations: Service, Monaco, US, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Bank Locations: Monaco, Luxembourg, Switzerland, North America, India, China

☆ DINKs in their 50s who are on track to retire early explain what being childfree has meant for their lifestyle and finances
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

They didn't necessarily set out to become DINKs, but it's a lifestyle that's worked well. AdvertisementWendy and Steve Thomas didn't necessarily set out to be DINKs, but it's a lifestyle that's worked out for them. Wendy Thomas, 55, and Steve Thomas, 51, are a California-based couple in a growing legion of Americans who are DINKS — households that are double income, with no kids. It's a lifestyle they "fell into," according to Steve Thomas, who works in the golf maintenance industry. AdvertisementAnd the couple isn't out proselytizing the DINK lifestyle, although it can elicit a lot of questions from strangers.

Persons: Wendy, Steve Thomas, that's, —, Steve Thomas didn't, Wendy Thomas, They've, DINK, she's, Steve, they're, Gen, Zers, DINKs, there's, it's Organizations: Service, redwoods, Census Bureau, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances Locations: California, Southern California

☆ Meet the typical HENRY: Urban 32-year-olds with no kids who make a six-figure income and have a college degree
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The typical HENRY — high earner, not rich yet — is 32, lives in a city, and makes six figures. The typical HENRY — or high earner, not rich yet — is an urban 32-year-old without kids, makes a six-figure income, and has lots of student debt. This is according to data on 1,500 clients shared with Insider from Stash Wealth , a financial advisor for HENRYs . Five HENRYs told Insider they're saving upwards of 40% to 70% of their income each year. Given many HENRYs got an undergraduate degree, with some pursuing doctorates, student loans are particularly elevated, as the average HENRY student loan balance comes in at $80,000.

Persons: HENRY, HENRYs, —, HENRY —, Priya Malani, Savannah White, She's, White, Gen, Sherry, Zer, Malani, Sarah Baus, it's, Baus Organizations: Service, HENRYs, Shash, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Bank of America Institute, Olive, SC Locations: New York City, Los Angeles, Savannah, Charleston

☆ Gen Z is the most financially savvy generation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Eve Upton-Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementIn a May survey from the CFA Institute, a global trade association for investment advisors, more than half of Gen Z respondents said they were already investing, and 82% of American Gen Z investors said they began investing before they turned 21. And while there are plenty of pitfalls and missteps that could plague young people along the way, Gen Z is shaping up to be the most financially savvy generation yet. The estimated $60 billion wipeout caused many Gen Z investors to lose big. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile Gen Z may not always be drawn to the safest investment choices, it's certainly getting some hands-on learning. In many respects, Gen Z is coming of age at a good time, graduating into a booming job market with strong wage growth.

Persons: Gen, Gen Zers, Gen Xers, Zers, It's, —, they'd, stashing, Gen Z, Erin Lowry, Z, there's Venmo, Lowry, Charlie Pastor, finfluencers, Pastor, Taylor Price, Price, it's, I'm, Eve Upton, Clark Organizations: CFA Institute, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Transamerica Center, Retirement Studies, PayPal, YouTube, CFA, IRA, Interactive, UK Royal Mint, Barclays Smart Investor Locations: Canada, Chipotle, BlackRock

☆ It's a great time to be a boomer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Millennials' financial well-being plummeted, and they're worried they won't get what they want in life. Their financial well-being score has risen by 4.04 from August 2022 to August 2023, compared to a .93 jump for all US adults. Over the last year, their financial well-being has tumbled by .94 — the biggest decline across all age groups. About 26% of millennials hold educational debt, according to Morning Consult's polling, compared to around 5% of boomers. According to Morning Consult, around 43% of millennials held credit card debt, compared to around 36% of baby boomers.

Persons: Millennials, they're, —, boomers —, millennials, Jaime Toplin, Toplin, they'll, They're Organizations: Boomers, Service, Morning, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances

☆ UK household wealth has tanked and it's a sign of what could happen in the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

UK's household wealth dropped due to rising interest rates, with regions like Scotland hit hardest. The US faces a similar risk with many Americans' wealth tied up in home equity and retirement accounts. Decline in UK household wealth since the start of 2022. Scotland, Wales, and the North of England had the biggest drops of 24% to 26% in total household wealth. Similar factors are seen in the USThe factors leading to declining household wealth in the UK cast a long shadow over the US.

Persons: —, Jeremy Grantham, Grantham, Daniel Bustamante, boomers Organizations: Service, Bank of England, Foundation, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Treasury, Brigade, Bustamante, Co Locations: Scotland, Wales, England, East, North

☆ Meet the typical millionaire: College-educated people in their 50s and 60s who own a home and lots of stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Median net worth for the 80th-90th income percentile saw net worth gains of 69% from 2019 to 2022. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's not just the top 1% that's getting richer — over 16 million American families now have a net worth over $1 million. The analysis further noted how nearly eight million families have wealth over $2 million, compared to 4.7 million in 2019. Meanwhile, the average net worth rose to over $1 million, though this is skewed by extremely wealthy Americans. Upwards of 40% of millionaire families aged 55 or above are headed by a college graduate.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Wall, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer, WSJ, Fed, Commerce Department

You may think the term "net worth" only applies to celebrities and CEOs, but it's something we all have — and we all should know it. Here's a breakdown of both median and average American net worth by age, according to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances published in October 2023. Knowing your net worth can help you assess whether your next financial move is a good one. Empower (formerly Personal Capital) and Mint are two platforms that make tracking your net worth easy. Empower has its own net worth calculator and Mint has a net worth-specific dashboard that calls out your progress each month.

Organizations: Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer, Federal Reserve Survey, Consumer Finances, Google, Android, CNBC, CNBC Select's, Facebook, Twitter Locations: U.S

☆ There's never been a better time to be a DINK
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

One variant of the DINK is the DINKWAD , double income couples without kids — but with a dog. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Some of those savings might ripple into an accumulation and increase in net worth," Heggeness said. What's more, the cost of raising one child to their high school years is estimated to be $310,605 — the bulk of a median DINK's net worth. For instance, single Americans with children have seen their net worth more than double over the last decade, and their net worth is outpacing younger, childless singles. Now, that rise in net worth might be due to the changing dynamics of how single parents are arriving at their destination.

Persons: DINK, —, childlessness, they're, Misty Heggeness, Nobody, weren't, Heggeness, JP Morgan, Nicole Valdez, it's, Jasmen Rogers Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, University of Kansas, Survey

☆ The average American's net worth is at an all-time high. Here's how it breaks down by generation.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This was more than double the next-largest increase in net worth since 1989, when the Fed began the survey. Median net worth — which measures household assets like houses and vehicles, minus debts like mortgages and student loans — surged to $192,000 when accounting for inflation. While this group, comprised of younger millennials and Gen Zers, has a much smaller net worth than any other age group, median net worth grew from $16,100 to $39,000 during the three-year period. So-called DINKs, or couples with "double income, no kids," also saw huge net worth increases, according to the Fed's survey. Americans in the 55 to 64 age group saw median net worth gains of 48%, while those between the ages of 65 and 74 had a 33% rise in median net worth.

Persons: —, millennials, Gen Zers, Mark Zandi, Zandi Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Fed, CNBC

☆ Receiving an inheritance? Here's how experts say to handle any windfall
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Inheritances come in three primary forms: cash, real estate and investments. How to handle a cash inheritanceCash is the easiest asset to handle, as long as you're not receiving a boatload of it. How to handle inheriting real estateUnless your parents lived in a palace, you're unlikely to run into the inheritance tax limit on a real estate inheritance either. But remember: Real estate often comes with upkeep costs, says Patel. "People underestimate the expense in real estate, so you should be aware of that prior to making the decision."

Persons: it's, windfalls, Grandpa Winston's, Inheritances, Clay Ernst, Cash, Pratik Patel, We're, Patel, you'll, —, Ernst Organizations: University of Pennsylvania, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Edelman, BMO Family Office Locations: United States

☆ Who Profits After Natural Disasters Like Hurricanes and Wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Anthony Dimauro | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

After Hurricane Michael struck Florida in 2018, home sales rose significantly, allowing disaster investors to reap the rewards. This venture has the potential to be even more rewarding given the increasing frequency of natural disasters in the US. But federal disaster relief is painfully slow to respond and often doesn't cover most of the costs. And while moratoriums on damaged land sales aren't a long-term, legally tenable solution, there are ways state officials might be able to deter disaster investors. As the threat of natural disasters increases, so will disaster profiteers.

Persons: Josh Green, Ian, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane, Joe Raedle, Hurricane Maria, Congress —, Hurricane Sandy, it's, Anthony DiMauro Organizations: Nashville Metro Council, FEMA, Hurricane, Centers for Environmental, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Emergency Managment Agency, Small Business Administration, Urban Institute, Office, Congress, of Housing, Urban, Bloomberg, Newsweek, L.A Locations: Hawaii, Maui, Hawaii's, Tennessee, Nashville, Florida, Wilsey, New Orleans, California, Puerto Rico, Lahaina, New York

☆ Some companies have demanded employees return to the office. The outcome is worse than we thought.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Gleb Tsipursky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

It echoed the Greenhouse report's findings: a majority of employees, 76%, would actively seek a new job if flexible-work policies were retracted. Upon running an internal survey, they realized that, aside from better compensation and career-advancement opportunities, employees were seeking better flexible-work policies. Their story echoes the collective message from all three reports: companies must adapt to flexible-work policies or risk being swept away. The Greenhouse report bears testament to this, with 76% of employees open to job hunting if their company rolled back flexible-work policies. As we set sail into the future of work, flexibility isn't just a passing trend; it's a necessity, the new standard.

Persons: Greenhouse, Unispace Organizations: Companies, Service, Federal Reserve's Survey, Household Economics, New York Times Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ The rich often misjudge the potency of their retirement savings, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Thirty-two percent of high-income households are "not worried enough" about their retirement risk, a larger share than the 26% of low- and middle-income earners. The Center for Retirement Research uses the survey data to construct a National Retirement Risk Index. The index models retirement preparedness according to a range of assets like Social Security, pensions, home equity and employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as a 401(k). Anqi Chen assistant director of savings research, Center for Retirement Research at Boston CollegeIn 2019, 47% of American households were at risk of not being able to maintain their standard of living in retirement, according to the index. Why the rich are more likely to underestimate riskWestend61 | Westend61 | Getty ImagesNineteen percent of U.S. households correctly identify as being at risk of falling short in retirement, according to the center's report.

Persons: Anqi Chen, Chen, they're, David Blanchett, Louis Organizations: Getty, Center for Retirement Research, Boston College, Finance, GOP, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Retirement Research, Social Security, for Retirement Research, Westend61, Prudential Financial, Federal Reserve Bank of St, Center for Locations: U.S, PGIM

☆ Asia shares inch higher, U.S. inflation test looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"The survey should point to further broad-based tightening in bank lending standards," said Bruce Kasman, head of economic research at JPMorgan. "Though our analysis suggests that the impact of a credit tightening against an otherwise healthy backdrop tends to be limited." S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures were both off 0.1%, after jumping on Friday in the wake of Apple's (AAPL.O) upbeat results. The dollar stood at 135.19 yen , with the euro at 148.93 and not far from its recent 15-year peak of 151.55. Brent was last up 3 cents at $75.33 a barrel, while U.S. crude added 5 cents to $71.39 per barrel.

☆ 'The credit crunch has started': Here's what tighter lending standards mean for American consumers and businesses as banks navigate the SVB wreckage
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"Each bank is going to apply those credit standards differently," a source told Insider. Requiring higher minimum credit scores and minimum repayments and curbing credit limits were among tweaks banks were making. Lending to consumers dropped and credit standards and terms "continued to tighten sharply," with marked rises in loan pricing. A "dramatic worsening of firm and consumer access to bank credit," is how a 2014 paper on the Federal Reserve's website describes a credit crunch. Tighter lending standards may have a big impact on floating-rate loans versus fixed loans, CFRA equity analyst Alexander Yokum told Insider.

☆ Here's the net worth of the average American family
▼ + stars: | 2019-05-14 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Americans say, on average, that it takes a net worth of $2.27 million to be considered "wealthy," according to a 2019 survey from Charles Schwab. Net worth means assets minus liabilities, so this is a picture of your total savings, including the value of your home, 401(k) and any other assets you may have, minus any debt. How does that compare to the net worth of the typical American family? The average net worth of all U.S. families is $692,100, according to The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances. Don't miss: The best credit cards for building creditThe Federal Reserve also looked at the mean and median net worth of U.S. families at different ages and found that "median and mean family net worth generally increase with age, with a plateau or modest decreases for the oldest age groups relative to the near-retirement age groups."

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