- About 75% of Americans lack "essential wealth" — the liquid savings plus assets needed to weather setbacks and afford homeownership and retirement — leaving many financially vulnerable.
- Younger adults are especially squeezed: roughly 9 in 10 under-40s say buying a home is harder than for their parents, and most don't have the down payment/net worth to reach lasting security.
- Despite low unemployment and booming markets, many remain pessimistic about the American dream; only about 29% of those 65+ meet the essential-wealth benchmark (the highest share by age).
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