[sidlls]

Yes, if you are fortunate enough to have a job that allows you to save money--that's less than half the working population of the US, where the median bank account value is under $6k. Someone with a bank account that low isn't investing $2000/year starting at 20 years old to achieve a $1M (pre-tax) portfolio at age 67.

That's the whole reason people object to these "just start saving and compound returns will make you rich" myths. The fact is that only people near the right-edge or beyond of the curve in terms of income will ever "invest and be rich" in a given lifetime. It takes a combination of extreme luck and risk-taking to achieve wealth in this society.

[derekp7]

The thing that's hard to come to terms with is that there is a wide range of incomes of all those that don't make enough money to save. That is, someone making 50K a year has just as much problems saving as those who make 30K. Of course there are reasons for this -- on the lower end of the payscale people rely more on outside assistance, or they forego certain necessities that impact their quality of life. You are still having to pay every penny of income towards physical quality-of-life expenses up to a certain point, then above that level is small luxuries that have a big impact on emotional quality of life. Past that point is where you can start really saving.

[misiti3780]

I know the the numbers and I agree.