Americans’ 401(k) balances hit record levels last year.

[1srelluc]

MSN

The majority of 401(k) assets are invested in stocks, which made 2025 a very good year for most workplace retirement savers, according to Vanguard’s latest “How America Saves” report, a landmark study now in its 25th year.

Average balances hit record levels, up nearly $20,000 over the previous year to $167,970. Median balances, which perhaps reflect a more accurate picture of savings because they are not skewed by a small number of high earners, also saw a nice boost, up almost $6,000 to $44,115.


But, but, but, Orange Man Bad. It’s inconceivable!

Never fear, soon the dems will be taxing those unrealized gains on a quarterly basis.

Hey, it's for the "greater good".

 

[pknopp]

While prices continue to climb.

 

[odanny]

While prices continue to climb.

In Trump fashion, account balances go up, and so do prices on everything.

But hey, I gave you the money to pay for it!

 

[pknopp]

In Trump fashion, account balances go up, and so do prices on everything.

But hey, I gave you the money to pay for it!

This has been ongoing for sadly, a very long time.

 

[Muhammed]

While prices continue to climb.

Under the Trump administration, real wages went up and poverty hit an all-time record low.

 

[odanny]

Last year was not nearly as good as this year (for me), this year has been record setting. If this keeps up for another 6 months, 2025 will be quickly forgotten (by everyone).

 

[1srelluc]

In this thread we see who invested poorly.

 

[jacksonlamb]

Under the Trump administration, real wages went up and poverty hit an all-time record low.

And inflation continues to go up, more than 50% since Biden left office, he who got the Trump caused inflation down to 3%.

 

[Muhammed]

And inflation continues to go up, more than 50% since Biden left office, he who got the Trump caused inflation down to 3%.

Inflation averaged 5% under Biden. 20% cumulative inflation in just 4 years of president autopen.

 

[Dante]

Under the Trump administration, real wages went up and poverty hit an all-time record low.

Lying through omission again.

search:
Economic data generally supports both of these claims, though they require specific context regarding the broader economic climate, particularly the events of 2020. [1]
Real Wages Increased
Real wages (wages adjusted for inflation) did rise during the Trump administration's first term. While some economists note this growth was partly "artificial" because lower-wage workers were disproportionately laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic, data still indicates that average real wages rose by roughly 7-8% overall between 2017 and 2021. Strong job demand in 2018 and 2019 also resulted in robust wage growth for lower-income and blue-collar workers. [1, 2, 3]
Poverty Hit a Record Low
The official poverty rate fell to an all-time record low of 10.5% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This marked a significant reduction across all demographic groups, including Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans. However, this overall record low was calculated right before the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant economic disruption and widespread unemployment in 2020. [1, 2, 3]

The Trump increase was due partly to low-wage workers being laid off disproportionately during the COVID-19 pandemic, the analysis said.

Economist Josh Bivens of the liberal Economic Policy Institute said the 7% figure goes back to Richard Nixon’s first term in 1969. He called the increase under Trump “artificial” because fewer low-income workers were employed, driving up the average.
Depending on the type of real wages, such as hourly or weekly, the increase under Trump measures 8% or higher.
Republican Eric Hovde made the claim at an April 2, 2024, Trump event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Hovde is running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin in the 2024 election.

 

[Dante]

Sep 9, 2025

Poverty in America Remained Flat in 2024 But Will Likely Rise as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Goes Into Effect​

New census data show how poverty in America looked before the Trump administration’s megabill made historic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Poverty in America Remained Flat in 2024 But Will Likely Rise as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Goes Into Effect

New census data show how poverty in America looked before the Trump administration’s megabill made historic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

www.americanprogress.org

 

[Muhammed]

Lying through omission again.

That's a stupid lie.

I gave the relevant FACTS.

You are afraid of truth. So you lie and attempt to muddy the waters.

Piss off, piss boy.

 

[jacksonlamb]

Inflation averaged 5% under Biden. 20% cumulative inflation in just 4 years of president autopen.

Biden was at 3% at the end of his term, and inflation is now up to 4.5%.

 

[Muhammed]

Biden was at 3% at the end of his term, and inflation is now up to 4.5%.

You're irrelevant alternative facts are just an example of cherry picking a small snippet of time in an attempt to muddy the waters. My relevant facts consider the big picture.

The 4.5% spike is nothing compared to 9% spike in inflation under Biden.

Inflation averaged 5% under Biden. 20% cumulative inflation in just 4 years of president autopen.

The fact of the matter is that inflation was much higher under Biden. The ultra-corrupt autopen president was a disaster.

 

[jacksonlamb]

You're irrelevant alternative facts are just an example of cherry picking a small snippet of time in an attempt to muddy the waters. My relevant facts consider the big picture.

The 4.5% spike is nothing compared to 9% spike in inflation under Biden.

Inflation averaged 5% under Biden. 20% cumulative inflation in just 4 years of president autopen.

The fact of the matter is that inflation was much higher under Biden. The ultra-corrupt autopen president was a disaster.

Those are actual facts.

The fact is .... Trump fucked up again as he did in his first term.

 

[Muhammed]

The fact is .... Trump fucked up again as he did in his first term.

That's your disinformed opinion, not a fact.

You're just too stupid to understand the difference.

 

[Dante]

That's a stupid lie.

I gave the relevant FACTS.

You are afraid of truth. So you lie and attempt to muddy the waters.

Piss off, piss boy.

Lying through omission again.

It's what you do.

any cursory search of your pots reveal that FACT.

 

[Dante]

homework assignment:

Americans’ already poor money savvy fell even further this year, a worrisome trend, researchers said, because people with weak understanding of basic finances often make poor financial decisions.

On average, adults correctly answer about half of the 28 questions in the Personal Finance Index, a survey of financial knowledge. The average has never topped 52 percent. This year, it was just 47 percent, the lowest level in the 10-year history of the survey.

“Certainly, it’s disturbing,” said Surya Kolluri, head of the TIAA Institute, which administers the survey with researchers at the Stanford University Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center. (The institute is the research arm of the investment firm TIAA, which runs retirement plans for many educators.)

The findings, however, aren’t necessarily surprising, Mr. Kolluri said. Americans have been under financial stress of one sort or another since the Covid-19 pandemic, he said, including inflation that has driven up the cost of groceries and gas. At the same time, he said, the spread of self-described financial influencers on social media has made it more difficult for people to discern what advice is truly useful.

https://gflec.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TIAA_GFLEC_Report_AnnualPFin_June2026_fin2.pdf

 

[Dante]

Those are actual facts.

The fact is .... Trump fucked up again as he did in his first term.

they always miss parts like this:

Can a creditor freeze your online bank account if you owe money?

Do you owe money to debt collectors but use an online bank? Here's what to know before the problems escalate.

www.cbsnews.com

For millions of Americans, online-only banks have become a practical alternative to traditional financial institutions. By offering big perks, like higher-than-average savings rates, lower fees and easy account management, these digital-first banks have attracted customers who may never step foot inside another bank branch. As a result, more paychecks, emergency funds and everyday spending money are now held at institutions that operate entirely online.

At the same time, many households are continuing to grapple with mounting financial pressures. Not only is inflation rising rapidly, driving up the cost of nearly everything, but budgets are stretched thin as credit card rates and balances remain elevated. In turn, payment delinquency rates are rising and collection activity is increasing as lenders work to recover unpaid debts.

That combination has prompted an important question for those concerned about facing a frozen account via a bank levy: If your money is held at an online-only bank, are the rules different when debt collectors come calling?

 

[Muhammed]

Lying through omission again.

It's what you do.

any cursory search of your pots reveal that FACT.

The FACT is that right now, the current 4.5% spike in inflation that incited your faux outrage, is still much lower that the average of 5% under Biden.

Biden caused inflation to spike to 9%, and you're OK with that, it's just the 4.5% spike you've got a problem with.