Most people are some combination of financially irresponsible and uneducated. Honestly, with the numbers you have here I have to lean towards irresponsible rega

Most people are some combination of financially irresponsible and uneducated. Honestly, with the numbers you have here I have to lean towards irresponsible regardless of whatever difficulties the middle class faces. Even at a median wage just doing the absolute bare minimum of saving 5%-10%, not even factoring in 401ks, would leave you well past this given the last few decades of market returns.