The Avg 45 to 50 year old has how much in cash and investments

48-yo

Estimates:

$100,000 in TSP

$65,000 in savings

$4500 in checking

Not me because I'm not a system sheep. I save that money because I refuse to let the game play me. Once you comprehend and understand the institutional evil, you can counteract it.

About 40% live mostly check to check and 60% do not have enough to afford an emergency $2k expense without running a credit line. This is exactly how the institution has planned it. When that line or percentage waivers, it's time for a reset or in this case, inflation. Time to wake up or sleep like a sheep.

A lot of people live above their means though. I guess that's what the social media generation has inclined--project an image that's misleading.

I keep it real. No fakes here. I let the sheep scatter for their scraps on toxic social media.

Sounds like you've thought this out way more than me. If you have a moment, could you expound just a bit?

34 years old

Salary/bonus ~ $100k

401k $100k (started it pretty late in life)

VOO/misc. ETFs $80k

Savings accounts $65k (waiting for the dust to settle this year)

Assets: almost none.... about $20k

Feeling pretty far behind some of my peers that graduated right at 22 years old immediately making bank and contributing to savings. It took me a longer while to reach such a point.

I never worked for Edward Jones but I know their business plan. Edward Jones have offices in suburbs & towns that are not affluent necessarily. That said, I've worked for U.S. Department of Labor, B.L.S. I've talked to a broader sample of U.S. citizens than 99% of N.Y.S.E. advisors regarding U.S. citizens and their financials. Over 700 U.S. citizens are billionaires and most aren't close to billionaire status. No need to debate in regard to average checking account balance for U.S. citizens.

You should have $1M in TSP. Did you start really late? If so, you should have that much in a 401k. I have $1.5M in my TSP and another $1M in stocks and mutual funds.

Unless you are retired, the real question is:

How long could you go without a job and keep everything you have?

I could last about two years.

Only $100k at 48? YIKES

Most non conservative TSP funds have been decimated over the last year. This person probably hade 30% more last year. but if he/she has more than a few years left and is still contributing, then he/she is buying shares at a low price and will ultimately be fine

Regretfully, yes.

I have definitely lost a lot over the past year. I don't think it is 30% but it is significant. I hope you are right about riding it out and ultimately being fine.

No I can not expound because I'm too busy making and counting money. Unless you pay me to do it.

My wife and I have a combined income of $200K. Our 3 kids are grown, with one still in college, graduating in May. Home is paid off ($700K) Combined 401(k)'s $800K after being down 17% this year. $200K in brokerage account. $5K in checking and $20K liquid in savings for emergencies. We are both 46.

Maybe he doctor? And bad with money?

I am a VA doctor age 41 and have only 250K in TSP, wife has same. About 300k in mutual funds/ETF. 600k equity in home. Didn’t start really saving till late 30s after finishing medical training.

Social media is toxic, people live well beyond their means and act like their lives are perfect. I don’t believe anything posted on it and stay off.

Wife and I are both 49. Two kids under 10. $1.5M in 401k/stocks, plus kids' have college funds already with more than plenty (thanks to some lucky investments) for whatever they choose to do. We owe under $300K on our $700K house. No other debts. Fairly sizeable inheritance when my parents eventually pass and whatever my wife's parents might have when they do. I feel pretty comfy.

I'll give my two cents as an accountant:

Life insurance for this age group is probably 50% yes, 50% no.

I think most have a month or two worth of easily-liquefiable savings available as a cushion. Average probably 6 months.

Most have some sort of investment ties to the stock market. Maybe ironically, those with lower balances are most sensitive to price declines.

According to this -

news.gallup.com

What Percentage of Americans Owns Stock?

Lydia Saad and Jeffrey M. Jones

Gallup's latest estimate finds 58% of U.S. adults own stock, remaining down from before the Great Recession.

Open link

58% of Americans own stocks.

I think that's about right. A lot of those people don't own enough, but that's about right.

45 here. I have $1mil+ in 401k, $1.3mil in PA/checking, $250k in 529, $3mil in term, $1mil in whole life, $1.2-1.4mil in equity in primary; $400-600k in equity in second home and I’m an owner of a side business/investment that is worth a few hundred grand. Maybe another $100k or so in a random pension and Roth that I no longer contribute to.

Fifty-eight percent do not own stock. There is a difference between choosing equity investments, company retirement plan or mutual funds or indices in I.R.A. and owning shares of stock. When individuals choose equities in company retirement plan, they are given bookkeeping units. Owners of equity shares receive quarterly statements from corporations, vote on officers of corporations and are invited to shareholder meetings. Less than 25% of U.S. citizens actually own shares of stock.