# Pocketbook Review

In early November 2021 I wrote a [post](https://peakd.com/hive-167922/@azircon/retirement-and-financial-freedom) on how much money an average person need at retirement in the US, to have an average life, at an average place. Note my use (overuse) of the word _average_. That post got a lot of good discussions, more than most of my usual posts. In that post I have argued that it is possible to retire with $1M saving (plus social security) at most parts of the US. Granted you may not splurge, but you won't be uncomfortable if you have an average health. 

![Av_American_Savings.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/azircon/EpCBmQG16usxo5oprThkwDN5Z5byAjdVv6uoRfHZTbfo6rMWR2QPDgrdV2sSDYz8PN5.jpg)

<center> [Source](https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-americans-financial-assets-by-age/) </center>

That leads to the current infographic above. This is the current compilation of financial assets binned by age groups. There are few interesting items I observed here:

1. Net worth slowly increases till 60s and then it declines slightly, not surprise there, as 60-65 is where average people are retiring and then drawing from their retirement assets in their 70s
2. Average assets at retirement is about $1M. The fact that I argued in the November post
3. Interestingly the demographic at 30s now have some cyrpto currency assets! Wow! Mind you, this is average. So maybe finally the mainstream is catching on.




![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/azircon/23tSKrSdduNsYWSDtqoZ9o1fAm1RKWDLvR9jRZEy5De1QTPK8PWa89N9CFqKdmiBx4qKi.png)

# New Trend

What I have seen personally around my bubble is during the last two years many have finally took the 'big leap'. It is different in different cases. These two years of working from home, lack of job, whatever the reason maybe, gave people time to think about their lives. People finally not only had time to think about what is important to them and plan for it, but this is for the first time people actually executed their plans. What this translates to is people did quit their 8-5 jobs to do something else that they enjoy and earn at the same time. I personally know people who actually quit their day jobs to invest in gaming VCs and plays splinterlands full-time now. I know people are doing blogging at hive as their primary source of income. No, not just in the developing world, in the US and in Europe.

This is what is getting called the 'great resignation' in the media. I am uncertain how long it will persists, but certainly it is a trend right now. If you look at these top authors in hive, you can certainly run a family at these earning at current prices.


<center> ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/azircon/23uFGqffRShHCnFGnZr9jrt7TtAbAb7HHgodNMv6FYQb5hjgi7PW1PNtZRGbY7svUFrDM.png) </center>


<center> [Dalz's Post, always informative](https://peakd.com/hive-167922/@dalz/top-hive-earners-by-category-or-authors-curators-witnesses-dao-or-january-2022) </center>

The point is not about the top authors though. It is the next level down, perhaps the top 100 or top 200 earnings that probably will define the middle class better. Also from my personal point of view, if this distribution is slightly more squashed, I will feel a bit better. I am glad to see also that there are almost no witnesses here on this list towards the top. Almost no 'projects' except @khaleelkazi, which is a recent appearance. I think that could be just due to leo.voter (self-vote) and typical trending vote by rancho. Usually a lot of 'projects' either post rather infrequently (only posts when needed) and/or burn their hive earning (Splinterlands is an excellent example of that, which I highly appreciate personally). I have commented about this on Khal's post, and I am hoping that it can be mitigated simply. This will be better for hive investors. I also appreciate if people at least consider holding some hive powered up, which is often not the case. This should be considered a community service, which is what Hive is after all.


https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/zord189/Zcxlm2md-azircon.gif