How's your 401k doing?

[onenote]

69. I'm also 71, but my memory differs from yours.

To be sure, unemployment has come way down from its pandemic-related peak during Biden presidency and a year ago it hit its lowest level in over 50 years. We definitely should be touting that, even if it has ticked up a bit in the few months. But it wasn't at "Herbert Hoover" levels when Trump left office -- it was around 6.7% (compared to over 20 percent during Hoover's administration).

And while we should be happy with, and also touting the Dow Jones' performance the past 3+ years and its impact on 401K plans, again the actual numbers tell a different story than your post. Depending on whether you measure from election day 2020 or inauguration day 2021 to today, the market is up either 43% or 24%. That's a great performance, but from election day 2016 to election day 2020, the market was up 50%. And from inauguration day 2017 to inauguration day 2021, the Dow was up 57%.

It doesn't do any good to fudge the numbers with comparisons. Better simply, as you do in pointing to GDP and current unemployment, to focus on how well we're doing, not whether its better than the previous four years.