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Please think about your net worth or your total assets including any real estate equity minus your debts. Compared to 12 months ago, is your net worth:
Seventy-one percent of Americans say their net worth is about the same or higher than last year, while 27 percent say it's lower.
Twenty-eight percent of college grads say their net worth is higher today than last year compared to 17 percent of those with a high school education or less.
Of Americans earning more than $50,000, 3 in 10 Americans earning more than $50,000 report higher net worth, while the same percentage of those earning less report lower net worth.
You have a general sense among people that things are just not that good.
Jimmy Lee
Managing partner and financial adviser with Strategic Wealth Associates in Las Vegas
This malaise started in 2008, and it hasn't gotten that much better as far as unemployment and housing. Because it has lasted for so long, you have a general sense among people that things are just not that good. People are putting money into their (retirement accounts) and probably think they are worth less because the market has been sideways, but maybe the reality is that they are worth a little bit more because they've continued to save. Nonetheless, the confidence level of the average person has gone sideways or maybe a little bit south, and that's why they feel that their net worth is lower.
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