Are you better of than you were four (or even eight) years ago?

Yes, but only because I had excess wealth to invest in the stock market and ride the Federal manipulation of Wall St to the top.

Anyone who didn't have the money to risk or invest is worse off today than 8 years ago simply from inflation alone.

And when the Feds pull the carpet out under the near 0% interest rate scheme everything is going to come crashing down.

Yes, 8 years ago I was working and the markets were down. Over the years the markets recovered but I kept working and maxing out retirement plans and investing in taxable investments and ROTH. My job benefited from the recession so I got bonuses and raises and profit sharing most years, one year two raises, I retired 3 years ago and am still up from then.

yeah i am, much better

let's look at it this way, you are a young lad, probably still living at home, your parents are providing you with all you need, maybe you have a little part time job that lets you buy things your parents don't, so all in all things are good for you

now 8 yrs down the line, you have a job, maybe it is enough that you can afford to live outside your parents' home, maybe the job just pays enough to get by and for you that is enough(or maybe it isn't)

so when you compare the two situations, you decide if you are better off or not

Yes

I am far worse off than I was eight years ago, and even worse than I was four years ago. You have my solemn vow.....I will NOT vote for that woman.

Very much so on both counts...

The Market is up more than 100% over that period, and Housing has recovered, so I now have more than doubled my Net Worth during a period in which there has been negligible inflation....

How about you?

Older. Broker. But better all around. I'm in a new place. I don't owe anybody a thing. And I don't depend on anybody.

Better of what?

Better off? Yes, I am. The economy where I am is booming, so earnings are up, real estate values are up, and unemployment has been at an all time low.

Yes 😒