By Becky Yerak | Older, richer Chicagoans are more anti-social than affluent seniors elsewhere, a new survey indicates.
In retirement, 67 percent of affluent people age 65 and older
nationally say they plan to “focus on spending more time with family
and friends.” But only 57 percent of older Chicago fat cats profess
that high-minded ideal, the lowest among 14 U.S. cities, according to
the latest Merrill Lynch Affluent Insights Quarterly.
Merrill Lynch defines as “affluent” anyone with investable assets of at least $250,000. About 300 consumers were surveyed in Chicago
Philadelphia seniors seem to have the most love for their family and friends, with 77 percent saying that’s a focus of their retirement.
Other cities: Atlanta, 67 percent; Boston, 59 percent; Charlotte, 66 percent; Dallas, 59 percent; Los Angeles, 63 percent; Miami, 63 percent; Minneapolis, 76 percent; Orange County, 68 percent; Phoenix, 64 percent; San Francisco, 61 percent; St. Louis, 73 percent; and Washington, D.C., 65 percent.
Also, who said the economy is improving?
Merrill Lynch also found that affluent pre-retirees in Chicago are becoming more pessimistic about their timetable for kicking back, with 43 percent of Chicago’s affluent pre-retirees expecting to retire later than they thought they’d have to a year ago, up from 29 percent in the previous quarterly survey.
Fat cats? To retire comfortably a couple needs to have at least $2 million in total assets when they stop working. Check it on retirement cost calculators. -Don’t plan on getting Social Security either. Start saving now and never stop. Fat Cats? Really?
I resent the negative term “antisocial” applied to people who prefer to spend most of their time alone or with just a few close friends. The author must be the type of person who needs to have lots of people around all of the time. This reminds me of the weather forecasters who assume everyone here likes hot weather when in fact many of us love cold temps.