This is old at this point so I have no idea if anyone will see this.

I'm in the 5% according to this[1] based on my salary (not properties or anything like that, just salary).

Based on the tone of the thread so far to this point, people aren't going to want to hear this, but I also lack access to capital and ability to network with the wealthiest in my area. I'm literally an employee. I very high paid employee, yes, but an employee.

I too am only working a job and similar to you, it is only going to get me so far.

I started working at McDonald's at 16 in high school. I worked my way through school (RA, Dorm tech, other odd jobs), worked my way into an internship (skipped junior year to do internship), finished school and was lucky to get a job (2000). That job started at $40k, which was amazing for a kid out of school, I guess. From there it was extremely hard work, lucky breaks, taking some chances before wife and kids came along, getting a master's degree, having a few setbacks (financially) and starting over.

I'm making the money now, but I know this job won't last forever. I'm highly paid in this moment in time (and for the time I have this job), but when it ends, I can't expect another to just come along. So I'm saving. And preparing. And making sure this time doesn't go to waste.

The truly wealthy don't think like this; they don't have to. There is not "what if" future. The OP and I seem like we are in the same boat and, frankly, I get what he/she is saying. Salaried employees that happen to find themselves in the top X% are likely not living large or without worry like the truly wealthy[2].

[1] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_...

[2] - We are not "living large", we are comfortable. As an example. Wife drives a 2006 prius. I drive a 2007 minivan. Bought both used. We rent our home b/c rent-mortgage ratios in our area don't make sense to buy. Our kids go to public school. We worry about saving for the kids future like most anyone. We worry about retirement (neither of us have a pension) and we worry about health. A single high-cost health event could wipe us out. It almost did years back when wife got very sick and was in hosp/ICU for a week. Wiped out saving and had to sell car we had at the time and use CC to fully pay.

And, yes, I Know that we were able to recover in part b/c of the higher than normal salary. The point is, we aren't living like the silicon valley millionaires/billionaires people would expect us to be. We also worry about money.

The wealthy do not worry about money.