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Did you know you’ll work an average of 90,000 hours over the course of your life?
And if you’re a dual income household, that number becomes closer to 200,000 hours.
You’re also going to make millions of dollars during that time. The question is…
Are you going to keep any of it?
Because when it comes to the economy, only one matters.
Your personal economy.
Because it’s the only one you can control.
You and I can’t control the U.S. economy. We can’t control the international one. We can’t control politicians, wars, natural disasters, geopolitical tensions…any of it.
But we can control the economy inside our own home.
Here’s how to do it (or do it better).
Who the Typical American Is Working For
Today more than ever, it feels like everyone wants a piece of your money.
And if we breakdown the typical American’s workday, here’s how your hourly pay gets split:
⏰ 9-11am → you’re working for the government.
Because unlike your financial advisor, they don’t ask you to budget in order to pay them. They take from you automatically in the form of taxes, Social Security etc.
Because they know if they don’t, you won’t have anything left to give them.
⏰ 11am - 1pm → you’re working for housing and food.
⏰ 1pm - 5pm → you’re working for everything else. Transportation, insurance, childcare, your Netflix subscription etc.
But the people who build wealth, they do something completely different.
Who the Wealthy Work For
The wealthy work for themselves.
And this doesn’t mean they’re all entrepreneurs or self-employed.
Most every day millionaires (including myself), have a regular 9-5, are considered middle to upper-middle class, and still clip coupons.
It means they take the first hour of their day, and they keep the income they make from it.
Said another way, this means whatever you earn, even if it’s minimum wage, the first hour of your income has to go to YOU. You’re the first person who gets paid. Even before Uncle Sam.
How do you do this?
You invest.
But you don’t just invest anywhere, or in single stocks, or speculative assets like crypto.
You invest into broad, low-cost index funds in your 401(k), solo 401(k)/SEP IRA if you’re self-employed, or IRA if your employer doesn’t offer a retirement plan.
Funds that track the U.S. stock market, and have an average 10.5% annual return over the last 100 years.
The Everyday Millionaire
Last year, Fidelity did a Q3 study and found that of people who have their 401(k)s at Fidelity, 654,000 Americans now have $1 million or more in it, the highest total on record.
The Wall Street Journal calls this group "moderate millionaires." Most still live middle-class lifestyles.
Fidelity's data on what separates them from the average saver isn’t complicated.
The average American worker contributes 7.7% of pay to their retirement (I’d argue it’s closer to 3-5%).
The average 401(k) millionaire contributes 17.6%, captures an average 9% employer match, and has been in the same plan for 26+ years.
One participant described himself as a Boglehead. Someone who prescribes to Jack Bogle’s framework of investing in simple, low-cost index funds, and making minimal changes over time. Warren Buffett is also a big proponent of index fund investing.
Another said he often debated elaborate hedging strategies during volatility but for the most part did nothing.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Some other stats from the study:
86% of Fidelity's 401(k) millionaires are over 50.
The median millionaire age is 59.
The fastest-growing group reaching the milestone is now millennials, up from 1.8% to 3.7% of the total year over year.
In 2026, you can contribute up to $24,500 into your 401(k) or $7,500 into your IRA, if you’re under age 50. For workers 50 and older, you’re allowed what are called ‘catch-up’ contributions. For 2026, you can contribute up to $32,500 into your 401(k), or $8,600 into your IRA.
Workers aged 60 to 63 can contribute up to $35,750 under ‘super catch-up’ provisions.
The limitation worth naming here: $1 million in a 401(k) is pre-tax.
After federal and state income taxes on withdrawals, the effective spending power is lower.
A 22% federal bracket plus state taxes can reduce $1 million to roughly $720,000-$780,000 in purchasing power depending on state.
But the point I’m trying to make here is this:
If you’re contributing the bare minimum, or worse, nothing at all, to your retirement, you’re going to be short and have to keep working.
Your Money Move This Week
If you’re going to spend 90,000 hours of your life working, you might as well benefit from it first right? Here’s exactly what you need to do:
If you don’t have a retirement plan ➡️ open one. It’s free and takes < 10 min. (I recommend Fidelity - this isn’t sponsored, but Fidelity if you want to, give me a shout! 😉)
If you have a retirement plan but don’t contribute to it ➡️ start. Today.
If you have a plan and are contributing to it ➡️ bump it up. Even 1% makes a difference over time.
This is how you pay yourself first, and how every day people like you and me can get off the hamster wheel, and spend more of the hours we’re given enjoying life instead of working for it.
Your wealth hype girl,
-Charlie
When you’re ready, here’s how I can help:
If you want to sit down together and map out your specific asset location strategy — which investments go where based on your exact accounts, income, and tax situation — that's exactly what my 1:1 private strategy sessions are for.
No pressure, no pitch. Just your numbers and a clear plan.
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Disclaimer: this content is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not legal, financial or investment advice. Always do your own research before investing, and consult a licensed professional. Charlie and OJD LLC are not responsible for any losses or decisions made based on this content.