TNS Reports Another Record-Breaking Year for Millionaire Households

TNS has released results from its annual Affluent Market Research Program (AMRP). For the sixth consecutive year, TNS found that the number of millionaire households has increased significantly. Key findings from the survey include:

• - Millionaire households (households with $1MM+ net worth, not including primary residence) increased by 5.9 percent from June 2006 to June 2007, reaching an estimated 9.9 million
• - The mean age of the U.S. millionaire households is 66 with an average net worth (NIPR)of $4.6MM
• - The single most important financial goal of surveyed millionaires (56 percent) continues to be "assure a comfortable standard of living during retirement"
• - Retirement and education are top of mind for this population, with most often cited financial event in the past year of "rolled over a retirement account (13 percent);" followed by "paid for a child's education (9 percent)" and "paid for a grandchild's education (8.5 percent)."

View the full summary report.

Mr. Gates Queries His Peers

The Gates Foundation backs survey of wealthiest to boost giving. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is co-funding a study that is believed to be the largest and broadest survey of the American rich ever conducted. The questions will target American households worth $25 million or more, and the study aims to have at least 1,000 respondents -- a massive sample size for people of such a high net-worth level.

Read this 11.09.07 "Wealth Report" article by Robert Frank from the Wall Street Journal.