MaggieMae
Reality bits
- Apr 3, 2009
- 24,043
- 1,635
- 48
"Here is the problem. Just because you don't own stock doesn't mean you won't be affected. You probably own stock but don't know it. Do you have a retirement fund or pension fund? Do you have a 401K, 457K? anything of that sort? Do you put money in a bank in a savings or checking account? Your money doesn't just sit in a vault somewhere with your name on it. It gets invested into funds that are made up of yes.... stocks.
The percentage of Americans that own stock, directly or indirectly is probably close to 100 percent. Unless you have your money under a mattress, then stocks will affect you.
Also, you have to include employer issued stock. Stocks are traded daily, which fluctuates the value of your employer issued stock. As far as what to do articles, it does help you plan what to do. Should you buy that car or house? Should you pay your credit card off now as opposed to paying only the minimum? Unfortunately, it effects everybody.
The closest thing I found was that 56.9 million households in the US own stocks.
Source(s):
http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/w "
What percentage of Americans own stock? - Yahoo! Answers
You first link doesn't work anymore and the second is two years old. While stock held within 401k's two years ago might have been healthy, how many people lost a fortune since then? How many have had to cash in their 401k's just to make mortgage payments or pay the doctor/hospital when they got sick after getting laid off?
1. So, where's the 'stretch'?
2. So, where are your stats?
3. Do you wish to claim that 'few' or 'almost none' is the operative for stockholding in America?
If not, where's the beef?
I really didn't think I'd need to prove that people have suffered dramatic losses to their 401K's, because you trip over those stories every day. But here ya go. Just one of hundreds:
Retirement Dreams Disappear With 401(k)s - 60 Minutes - CBS News