| Today, while the cost of most essentials has risen, wages have increased substantially more. And the economy has expanded to allow more flexibility in how people earn money. Remote work, freelancing, and side hustles have enabled many Americans to create additional income streams and live more flexible lifestyles. Communication in the '50s and '60s was limited to landline phones and letters. There was no internet, no smartphones, and no GPS. Homes built in the 1960s were about 25% smaller. And the square footage per person was about a third of what it is today. A middle-class American today has access to technologies and services that would have been unimaginable in the mid-20th Century. A typical home today has more amenities than even a well-off home in the 1960s, with air conditioning, personal computers, multiple TVs, dishwashers, washers and dryers, microwaves, and cars with advanced safety features. There were 4 vehicles for every 10 Americans in 1960. And about a quarter of households had none at all. Today there are about twice as many vehicles per capita. That 1960s family may have had one car. But it almost certainly didn't have two. And that one was far less reliable. Medical technology was rudimentary by today's standards. Antibiotics were relatively new. And many diseases that are treatable or preventable today, were far more dangerous. Travel is cheaper and more accessible. Home entertainment is mind-blowingly better. And dining options, fitness equipment, and public infrastructure have all improved dramatically. In 1960, life expectancy was about 70 years. Today, it's nearly 80. Infant mortality has plummeted. Diseases like polio and smallpox are virtually eradicated. And treatments for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes have vastly improved. College is more expensive today. And a college education is more likely to be financed with debt. But in 1960, only 45% of kids who finished high school went to college, compared to 60% today, opening the door for more people to advance economically. And while tuition costs have risen sharply, access to scholarships and financial aid has expanded. More Americans than ever before attend college, start businesses, travel the world, and engage in lifelong learning. The ability to switch careers, reinvent yourself, or upskill online is a modern phenomenon. In the '50s and '60s, many jobs were physically demanding and offered little room for advancement. Today's job market has its challenges - especially the gig economy - but it also offers greater opportunities for fulfillment, creativity, and upward mobility. The '50s and '60s were not a golden age for everyone. Women were expected to stay home. People of color faced widespread, legalized discrimination. Gay Americans had to hide their identities. The idealized "American family" was a narrow and exclusionary model. Today there is significantly more freedom, equality, and representation for people across races, genders, and sexual orientations. The ability to live authentically and pursue happiness is an undeniable gain. While some elements of mid-century life may seem simpler, they came at the cost of comfort, freedom, and opportunity. In short, the American Dream hasn't disappeared. It has evolved. Americans today enjoy more consumer choice, more tools for success, and more conveniences than any previous generation. Romanticizing the past may feel comforting. But when we look at the facts - both past and present - today's society offers more Americans than ever the chance to live a fulfilling, empowered life. Good investing, Alex | 
