Is the American Dream Dead?

Unfortunately, over 60% of Americans say yes... [Shield] AN OXFORD CLUB PUBLICATION Loyal reader since April 2024 [Wealthy Retirement]( [View in browser]( SPONSORED [Urgent] Starlink Set For The Largest IPO In History? He turned PayPal from a tiny, off-the-radar startup... to a massive $64 billion giant. Then, he did it again with Tesla... which is up more than 19,500% since 2010. For perspective, that turns $100 invested into almost $20,000! And now, Elon could be set to do it for the third and final time... with what might be his biggest breakthrough yet. And for the first time ever, you have the rare chance to profit BEFORE the upcoming IPO. [Click here now for the urgent details on this hidden play.]( [MARKET TRENDS]( [Is the American Dream Dead?]( [Alexander Green, Chief Investment Strategist, The Oxford Club]( [Alexander Green]( A recent Wall Street Journal poll found that nearly three-quarters of Americans no longer believe in the American Dream, defined as "if you work hard, you'll get ahead." A good reason so many feel that way is that inflation has spiked and wages have stagnated over the last few years. The stock market and home prices have also risen considerably during this period. But a third of Americans don't own their homes. For renters, higher real estate prices only put home ownership further out of reach. (That's especially true since mortgage rates have risen thanks to the Fed's rate hikes to cool off consumer prices.) More than 40% of Americans don't own stocks, either directly or through a mutual fund or 401(k) plan. For them, it means nothing if the market is near record highs. And that 5%-plus yield you've been earning on your Treasury bills and money markets? That is unavailable to folks who don't have savings. To feel that they are taking part in the American Dream, what most Americans want is more income. Recent data released by the Census Bureau showed that inflation-adjusted median household income was $80,610 in 2023, up 4% from 2022. But that only returns consumer purchasing power to where it was in 2019, the peak that was hit before the pandemic. That was the pinnacle for household income going all the way back to 1967. Yet the Census Bureau notes that the increase from 2019 through 2023 was statistically insignificant. In other words, over the last four years, Americans have had to deal with stagnant incomes, higher interest rates, and sticker shock on essentials like food, gas, and utilities. No wonder so many feel sour about the economy - especially those on the low end of the ladder who can least afford the price increases. Look behind the already-mediocre headlines, and real median earnings for full-time workers last year declined 1.6% and fell even more for high school grads (3.3%). However, the last four years are not the norm. Americans' inflation-adjusted incomes have tripled in the last 50 years. And that income buys a wider selection of high-quality goods and services than ever before. So what accounts for the recent stagnation? SPONSORED [DIVIDENDS: No. 1 Way to Collect Passive Income]( If you want to get rich, passive income is the name of the game. Real estate is risky. "Side hustles" take work. But [dividend stocks are truly 100% passive!]( And while they might sound old-fashioned... They are the single best way to grab MORE INCOME - while you eat, sleep and vacation - month after month. Getting started couldn't be easier! To prove it, I'm giving you the Ultimate Dividend Package (FREE OF CHARGE). [Click here to get it for free.]( It's a combination of the global pandemic - which snarled global supply lines, shut down large swaths of the economy, and reduced incomes - and boneheaded government policies - including increased regulations, tariffs, and government spending - that left many Americans worse off (or at least no better off) than they were before. In the weeks ahead in my e-letter, [Liberty Through Wealth]( I'll discuss simple steps that enable Americans to boost their earned income. However, it's important to realize that income is not wealth. In fact, experience shows that most Americans simply increase their spending as their income rises. Even if you have a high income, you're not getting richer if you spend it all. I know this from personal experience. As a young stockbroker in my 20s, I had all the trappings of wealth: a brand-new lakefront home, a ski boat, a sports car, and plenty of toys. When I had parties - which were frequent - a lot of my friends assumed I was rich. I was nothing of the sort. With a net worth dangerously close to zero, I was just living high. If you want real financial security - the kind that cannot be taken away by a soft economy, a job loss, or a down market - you need assets. Assets that will generate a high return and - in a worst-case scenario - can be converted to cash to meet a major, unexpected expense. The government will not provide you with these. Your employer won't either. It is up to men and women everywhere to take responsibility for their financial future by following a battle-tested plan that allows them to save, invest, and compound their money until it reaches an amount that provides real financial security. How much that is depends on your chosen lifestyle. The principles of wealth creation are well established. The problem is that most Americans don't know them... or don't follow them. Their parents never showed them. Their teachers never taught them. And most of their friends and colleagues don't know them themselves. With constant money worries, it's tough to live any version of the American Dream. But in the weeks ahead, I'll discuss the best ways to increase your earned income - and put your money to work in ways that give you the highest probability of meeting your most important investment goals. Stay tuned... Good investing, Alex P.S. To follow along with the rest of this series, [subscribe to my Liberty Through Wealth e-letter]( (assuming you haven't already). [Leave a Comment]( [Investment U Conference 2025 - Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, March 30-April 2, 2025. Save $100 when you register by Oct 15! Reserve your seat today!]( BUILD AND PROTECT YOUR WEALTH [Top SIX AI Dividend Stocks Right Now]( [The World Faces Endless Problems... Hallelujah!]( [Marc Says Act Now Before the "Great American Yield Rush" Ends.]( [Why Most Americans Don't Believe in the Dream]( MORE FROM WEALTHY RETIREMENT [Article]( [Is Microsoft Still a “Buy” Near Its All-Time High?]( [Article]( [Fed Rate Cut Sets Stage for More Inflation]( [Article]( [Blackstone Secured Lending Fund: A “Rock-Solid” 10% Yielder?]( [Article]( [The Top Stocks to Own as Interest Rates Fall]( [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [LinkedIn logo]( [LinkedIn]( [Email Share](mailto:?subject=A%20great%20piece%20from%20Wealthy%20Retirement...&body=From%20Wealthy%20Retirement:%0D%0A%0D%0AIs the American Dream dead? Unfortunately, over 60%25 of Americans say yes...%0D%0A%0D [Email Share](mailto:?subject=A%20great%20piece%20from%20Wealthy%20Retirement...&body=From%20Wealthy%20Retirement:%0D%0A%0D%0AIs the American Dream dead? Unfortunately, over 60%25 of Americans say yes...%0D%0A%0D [Push Alert]( [Push Alert]( SPONSORED [Yours Free! Top FIVE Dividend Stocks Right Now]( Marc Lichtenfeld - income expert and author of Get Rich with Dividends - is giving away his Ultimate Dividend Package... completely free of charge! You'll discover... - An "A"-rated, ultra-safe dividend stock with a huge 8% yield - Three of Marc's favorite "Extreme Dividend" stocks, which could supercharge your income - And finally, Marc's No. 1 dividend stock for a LIFETIME of income. [Click here to get the names and ticker symbols now](... before the download link expires. **NO CREDIT CARD REQUIRED!** [The Oxford Club]( You are receiving this email because you subscribed to Wealthy Retirement. Wealthy Retirement is published by The Oxford Club. Questions? Check out our [FAQs](. Trying to reach us? [Contact us here.]( Please do not reply to this email as it goes to an unmonitored inbox. [Privacy Policy]( | [Whitelist Wealthy Retirement]( | [Unsubscribe]( © 2024 The Oxford Club, LLC All Rights Reserved The Oxford Club | [105 West Monument Street](#) | [Baltimore, MD 21201](#) North America: [877.808.9795](#) | International: [+1.443.353.4621](#) [Oxfordclub.com]( Nothing published by The Oxford Club should be considered personalized investment advice. Although our employees may answer your general customer service questions, they are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular investment situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed personalized investment advice. We allow the editors of our publications to recommend securities that they own themselves. However, our policy prohibits editors from exiting a personal trade while the recommendation to subscribers is open. In no circumstance may an editor sell a security before subscribers have a fair opportunity to exit. The length of time an editor must wait after subscribers have been advised to exit a play depends on the type of publication. All other employees and agents must wait 24 hours after publication before trading on a recommendation. Any investments recommended by The Oxford Club should be made only after consulting with your investment advisor and only after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company. Protected by copyright laws of the United States and international treaties. The information found on this website may only be used pursuant to the membership or subscription agreement and any reproduction, copying or redistribution (electronic or otherwise, including on the world wide web), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of The Oxford Club, LLC, 105 West Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.