5/20/2015 It Only Takes $10,400 to be Richer Than Most Millennials Real Time Economics WSJ

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/09/04/itonlytakes10400tobericherthanmostmillennials/ 1/3

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It Only Takes $10,400 to be RicherThan Most Millennials

CB RESEARCH MILLENNIALS WEALTH

By JOSH ZUMBRUN

Are you a millennial with a net worth of more than $10,400? Congratulations, you’rewealthier than half of your generation.

The figure comes from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Financesreleased today, which tracked the net worth and income of American families in 2013.The report breaks down finances by age, income, home ownership and a range of otherfactors.

Why so low?

• First, obviously, incomes. Incomes for most Americans, adjusted for inflation, havebeen falling in recent years. If you earn more than $35,300, you’re bringing in morethan half of millennials, according to the Fed’s survey. In 2010, those under age 35 hadmedian earnings of $37,600. That’s a drop of $2,300 during the past 3 years. (As anaside: These Fed statistics cover families headed by someone under age 35, roughly

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5/20/2015 It Only Takes $10,400 to be Richer Than Most Millennials Real Time Economics WSJ

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/09/04/itonlytakes10400tobericherthanmostmillennials/ 2/3

encompassing the entire adult millennial generation and some of the oldest members ofGeneration X, depending on the definitions used. It excludes millennials still living athome and thus counted as part of their parents’ families.)

• Second, the rise of student debt, which now burdens 41.4% of those under 35. In2007, only 33.6% of people under 35 had loans and in 1998 it was 23.3%. The balancesof those who borrow have been growing as well, to $17,300 in this survey, up from$13,000 in 2007 and $10,000 in 1998. For those beginning thousands of dollars in debt,it can take years for net worth to climb into positive territory.

• Third, many millennials have avoided stocks and missed out on surging equityprices over the past five years. Today 38.6% hold stocks, either directly or indirectly.That’s down slightly from 2010 (even though prices have climbed relentlessly in thatperiod) when 39.8% held stocks. In 2001, about half of people under age 35 ownedsome stocks.

• Fourth, few people in this age group own their homes (and many of those whobought homes earlier than 2010 did not do well on the investment). Only 35.6% of thoseunder age 35 own homes, compared with 40.6% before the recession.

It only takes $10,400 to be wealthier than half of millennials (the median) but it takes$75,500 to be richer than millennials on average.

Why is the average so much higher than the median? Take a simple example of threeguys: Tom, Steve and Mark. Tom has a net worth of negative $10,000 due tooutstanding student loans. Steve has a net worth of $10,000. Mark (let’s say his lastname is Zuckerberg) has $33 billion. Their median net worth is $10,000. Their averageis $11 billion. A few outliers (like Mr. Zuckerberg) can earn enormous amounts morethan the median and drag the total up for everyone; conversely, it’s rather difficult to getyourselves millions of dollars in debt and drag the figure down.

Are millennials doing worse by every measure? Here’s one spot of good news: fewercarry credit card debt. According to the Fed’s survey, 36.8% of those under 35 havecredit card debt, down from 38.7% in 2010 and 48.5% in 2007.

And finally, remember that many of those under age 35 are just starting out. Thesavings cutoff to be richer than half of your age group rises with age. Among those 3544, it takes $47,000 to be wealthier than half. Among those age 4554 the cut off to bericher than half is $105,000 and it’s $166,000 for those 5564.

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5/20/2015 It Only Takes $10,400 to be Richer Than Most Millennials Real Time Economics WSJ

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/09/04/itonlytakes10400tobericherthanmostmillennials/ 3/3

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