"Am I on track?" is one of the most googled financial questions — and one of the hardest to answer well, because the only comparison that matters is against people in your actual situation: same country, same age bracket, same life stage.
We've compiled official data from three central bank surveys to give you a concrete answer.
France — Banque de France HFCS 2021
The Household Finance and Consumption Survey is the most rigorous wealth survey conducted in France. It covers over 10,000 households and captures all assets and liabilities. The numbers below are median net worth (half above, half below) — which is more meaningful than averages, which are inflated by the ultra-wealthy.
| Age group | Median net worth | P75 | P90 (top 10%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | €6,200 | €35,000 | €95,000 |
| 35–44 | €82,000 | €190,000 | €380,000 |
| 45–54 | €148,000 | €320,000 | €600,000 |
| 55–64 | €195,000 | €420,000 | €780,000 |
| 65–74 | €215,000 | €460,000 | €850,000 |
The dramatic jump between under-35 (€6,200) and 35-44 (€82,000) reflects when most French people buy their first property. The large gap between median (€82k) and P90 (€380k) at 35-44 shows how concentrated wealth accumulation is even within the same generation.
United States — Federal Reserve SCF 2022
The Survey of Consumer Finances is the gold standard for US wealth data. American medians are higher than French ones — partly reflecting higher incomes, partly higher equity market participation, partly lower social safety nets driving more private saving.
| Age group | Median net worth (USD) | P90 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $14,000 | $175,000 |
| 35–44 | $91,300 | $730,000 |
| 45–54 | $168,600 | $1,100,000 |
| 55–64 | $213,000 | $1,400,000 |
| 65–74 | $266,400 | $1,600,000 |
The US data shows a crucial insight: the P90 threshold at 45-54 crosses $1 million. Becoming a dollar millionaire in the US is achievable for roughly the top 10% of middle-aged adults — not as rare as people assume.
The Fidelity rule of thumb
Fidelity Investments, one of the world's largest asset managers, has published a widely-cited benchmark linking wealth to salary at key ages. While simplified, it provides a useful gut-check:
Age 35: 2× annual salary
Age 40: 3× annual salary
Age 50: 6× annual salary
Age 60: 8× annual salary
Age 67: 10× annual salary
For a French worker earning the median €26,280/year: the target at 35 is €52,560. The HFCS median of €82,000 actually exceeds this benchmark — suggesting the median French 35-year-old is ahead of the Fidelity rule, primarily thanks to property ownership.
What "being behind" actually means
The instinct when you discover you're below median is mild panic. This is usually unwarranted. A few important context points:
- Renters appear far behind homeowners — but they haven't made a worse financial decision, just a different one. Renting and investing the difference can outperform homeownership in many markets.
- High-earners in their 20s appear behind despite earning well — because they graduated with debt and hadn't yet had time to accumulate.
- The median doesn't predict the future. Wealth has high variance — people's situations change dramatically decade to decade.
The useful question isn't "am I behind the median?" but rather: "given my trajectory, where will I be at 65, and is that where I want to be?"
The trajectory that matters
Compare your current wealth to the benchmark for your age — but also track the rate of change. Someone with €30,000 at 35 who is saving €1,000/month is in a better position than someone with €80,000 who is saving nothing. The WealthRank tool shows you where you stand today; combine it with the Wealth Projector to see where your current trajectory leads.