Higher savings would normally be good for the economy. But not now, when capital is needed to invest in growth and jobs. The One Percenters put 56 percent of their available cash into savings accounts and money markets in 2012 – that’s up from 24 percent in 2007.
They’re investing just 44 percent in financial markets – down from 76 percent in 2007. More One Percenters say the stock market is “a real risk” rather than a “real opportunity.” That’s a big switch from just last year, when 62 percent said the market was an opportunity.
In other words, One Percenters used to save less, and invest more. Now they’re “basically stuffing money under the mattress,” said Jim Taylor, vice chairman of Harrison Group.
That also means they’re spending less – on everything from traditional luxury to second homes. Fully 82 percent said they would spend more if they had more confidence in the future.
“This has resulted in people managing their risk to a ‘no loss’ position rather a ‘real gains’ position,” Taylor said. “That’s not the great tradition of American investing.”
One respondent in the study said “My savings rate has gone up and I’m not spending, which I realize is bad for the economy ... but I like having a wide moat around me so that nothing can bother me.”
The wealthy aren’t just building financial moats, they’re also building psychological moats. The Occupy movement, media coverage of inequality and the Obama campaign’s “you didn’t build it” attacks have all made the wealthy fearful of any outward signs of success.
The survey showed that only 31 percent of today’s One Percenters “like it when others recognize me as wealthy.” That’s a huge drop from 2010, when 53 percent liked the recognition. This jibes with another recent poll that showed One Percenters don’t see themselves (and don’t want to be seen) as One Percenters.
The wealthy, in other words, are embarrassed to be wealthy.
“We can’t have a rise of an aristocracy without the aristocracy believing in it,” Taylor said.
As a result, today’s wealthy are further isolating themselves from broader society. Only 46 percent of One Percenters say “it is important for me to join social events in my community.” That’s a huge drop from 2010, when 64 percent said community is important. Fully 90 percent of the ultra-wealthy say they prefer to spend time with their closest friends and family.