6% is the average inflation-adjusted annual return of the US market over the last 150 years.
The specific rate of return will of course vary, year to year and decade to decade but the fact remains that cushy nest eggs aren't only for the rich. Middle class folks can retire in relative comfort and without making drastic sacrifices in the short term.
which would suggest 3% inflation adjusted returns. This isn't a serious prediction, just an observation that it takes a lot of optimism to tell people they'll get 6% returns because of their preferred data point.
The specific rate of return will of course vary, year to year and decade to decade but the fact remains that cushy nest eggs aren't only for the rich. Middle class folks can retire in relative comfort and without making drastic sacrifices in the short term.