Americans Aren't Giving Up on the American Dream, They're Redefining It as Financial Stability
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New Nationwide Financial Growth & Protection Index finds rising financial pressures are shifting consumer priorities from building wealth to protecting what they have. Key takeaways COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans still believe they can achieve financial success, but the definition of success is changing. According to the first-ever Nationwide Financial Growth & Protection Index powered by the Nationwide Retirement Institute , rising costs and economic uncertainty are reshaping the American Dream with consumers increasingly prioritizing financial stability, resilience and protection over traditional measures of wealth accumulation. The Nationwide Financial Growth & Protection Index, which measures how consumers balance financial growth and financial protection, scored Americans at 54 on a 100-point scale, indicating consumers are slightly more protection-oriented than growth-oriented overall. That shift is reflected in how Americans now view financial success: 84% say the American Dream is now more about financial stability than building wealth, while the same percentage believe it is harder to get ahead financially than it was for previous generations. For many Americans, this mindset is shaped by the pressures of everyday financial life. Nearly seven in 10 consumers (68%) reduced spending over the past year to improve their financial situation...
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