March 23, 2026 Investor Insights

Social Security

March 23, 2026

Enjoy this week's "Investor Insights," a weekly newsletter that highlights the financial news you need and provides tips and tricks for making better investment decisions. 

• Germany created the first Social Security system in the late 1800s, with a retirement age of 65, when life expectancy was about 43, so few people collected. Today, the U.S. still uses roughly the same retirement age, but with life expectancy near 80, and about 90% of workers draw benefits. 1
• The Iran conflict has some investors worried about stagflation, but during the last U.S. episode (1973–1982), small-cap stocks and US housing were the best-performing assets — outpacing inflation by about 5.9% and 5.5% annually. *2
• U.S. public markets have shrunk, with listed companies down ~36% since 2000, while private-equity-backed firms have risen around 475%, resulting in roughly 25% of all $1B+ companies being privately held. 3
• Housing affordability has deteriorated, with inflation-adjusted home prices about 45% higher than in the 1970s. Baby boomers now make up 42% of buyers, up from 29% for millennials, reinforcing wealth concentration among older generations. 4&5

Sources:

1. Bloomberg – “When the Best Retirement Is No Retirement at All”
2. MarketWatch – “History Says These 2 Overlooked Asset Classes Are the Only Real Shield Against 1970s-Style Stagflation”
3. Barron’s – “Earnings Reports Every Quarter? The Pros and Cons From Wall Street Insiders”
4. Bloomberg – “Gen Z Is Full of Financial Angst. Listen to Them.”
5. National Association of Realtors – “Baby Boomers Regain Top Spot as Largest Share of Home Buyers”

*Past performance is not indicative of future performance

Disclosure: This information is furnished for the use of Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC, Glen Eagle Wealth, LLC, and their clients and/or contacts. It does not constitute the provision of investment advice to any person. It is not prepared with respect to the specific objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any specific person. Investors reading this commentary should consult with their Glen Eagle representative/financial advisor regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or adapting any investment strategies discussed or recommended in this newsletter. 

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