Charles Schwab today released additional findings from its 2024 Modern Wealth Survey. Since 2017, Schwab has collected data annually on Americans’ perspectives on saving, spending, investing, and wealth. This year’s study reveals that Americans now think it takes an average of $2.5 million to be considered wealthy – which is up slightly from 2023 and 2022 ($2.2 million).
By generation, Boomers have the highest threshold of what it takes to be considered wealthy, at $2.8 million, while the younger generations, Millennials and Gen Z, have lower thresholds of what is considered wealthy. At the same time, Americans say that the average net worth required to be financially comfortable is $778,000. The average net worth required for financial comfort reached a peak last year at $1 million, but this year, Americans’ estimations are more in line with 2022 ($775,000) and show an upward trend when compared with 2021 ($624,000).
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Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”
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Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”
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All Americans
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$2.5 million
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$778,000
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Boomers
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$2.8 million
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$780,000
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Gen X
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$2.7 million
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$873,000
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Millennials
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$2.2 million
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$725,000
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Gen Z
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$1.2 million
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$406,000
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When it comes to geographic region, Californians have the highest threshold of what it takes to be wealthy, with San Franciscans saying it takes $4.4 million and Southern Californians indicating it takes an average net worth of $3.4 million. Survey respondents who live in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, and Dallas express a lower threshold of what it takes to be wealthy when compared with the national average.
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Average net worth it takes to be “wealthy”
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Average net worth it takes to be “financially comfortable”
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San Francisco
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$4.4 million
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$1.5 million
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Southern California
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$3.4 million
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$1.2 million
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New York
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$2.9 million
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$994,000
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Washington, D.C.
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$2.8 million
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$968,000
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Denver
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$2.8 million
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$876,000
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Seattle
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$2.8 million
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$789,000
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Boston
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$2.7 million
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$903,000
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Atlanta
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$2.4 million
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$781,000
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Chicago
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$2.3 million
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$813,000
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Houston
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$2.3 million
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$662,000
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Phoenix
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$2.3 million
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$650,000
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Dallas
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$2.2 million
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$724,000
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When asked if they think they will be wealthy within their lifetimes, 21% of Americans say they are on track to be wealthy. Younger Americans, including Millennials and Gen Z, are the most optimistic about being wealthy in their lifetimes (29%).
Though they’re optimistic about their future wealth, respondents acknowledge that there’s more they can do, with fewer than one in five Americans (18%) saying that they are currently on top of their finances. Nearly one-third (32%) feel they are on track to being more on top of their finances and another one-third (34%) feel they need to make changes to feel more in control.
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I’m wealthy now
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I’m on track to be wealthy
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I’m on top of my finances now
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I’m on track to be on top of my finances
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All Americans
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10%
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21%
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18%
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32%
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Boomers
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8%
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13%
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26%
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24%
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Gen X
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9%
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18%
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16%
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29%
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Millennials
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12%
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28%
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14%
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40%
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Gen Z
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10%
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29%
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17%
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36%
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Americans generally give themselves passing grades when it comes to their personal finances, including how much they have saved, how much they have invested, and how prepared they will be for retirement. Notably, the grades are higher among those who have a financial plan in place.
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How Americans grade themselves when it comes to their personal finances
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All Americans
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Those with a financial plan
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A/B/C
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D/F
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A/B/C
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D/F
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How much I have saved
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63%
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37%
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86%
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14%
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How much I have invested
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67%
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34%
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86%
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14%
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How much I educate myself about personal finance
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78%
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22%
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92%
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8%
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How prepared I will be for retirement
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67%
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33%
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88%
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12%
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“‘Wealth’ means different things to different people, whether it’s financial freedom, enriching experiences with friends and family, or a certain dollar amount,” said Rob Williams, CFP®, managing director of financial planning at Charles Schwab. “Our survey reinforces that people with a written financial plan are more confident about achieving their personal financial goals. Financial planning helps people understand where they are today and create a roadmap to get where they want to be, whether someone is saving for a single goal, like retirement, or needs comprehensive planning and wealth management.”
About the Modern Wealth Survey
The online survey was conducted by Logica Research from March 4, 2024, to March 18, 2024, among a national sample of 1,000 Americans aged 21 to 75. An additional 200 Generation Z Americans completed the study. Quotas were set to balance the national sample on key demographic variables. Detailed results can be found here.
Disclosures
The information here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.
All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or geopolitical conditions.
About Charles Schwab
At Charles Schwab we believe in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow. We have a history of challenging the status quo in our industry, innovating in ways that benefit investors and the advisors and employers who serve them, and championing our clients’ goals with passion and integrity.
More information is available at https://www.aboutschwab.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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