**How big is the generational investment gap? The data speaks**

Latest research hits hard: Americans have an average investment of $246K, but those born in the 80s (Baby Boomers) have an average holding of $472K—nearly double.

What's even more outrageous is that they actually started the latest: they begin investing at an average age of 31. In contrast, Generation Z starts at 20, Millennials at 26, and Generation X at 28. But their current investment amounts are like this —

• Post-80s: $472K
• Generation X: $311K
• Millennials: $173K
• Generation Z: $32K

Why did they rise to the top later? Nathanson, the head of the research organization IPX1031, said: longer years of making money + property appreciation. 86% of those born in the 1980s believe that real estate is the core of long-term wealth, and this awareness has made them a lot of money.

The savvy post-80s generation still uses the 1031 exchange strategy—selling one property to invest in another, allowing the capital gains tax saved in the process to be deferred or discounted for inheritance. This tactic can help preserve wealth more effectively during intergenerational transfers.

What is inspiration? It's not that being young means you should go All In on stocks, but rather that you need to have a strategy, understand tax planning, and treat real estate as a long-term asset - this is the way to accumulate steadily.