It was a routine Thanksgiving dinner at our home on Long Island. Amidst the light banter, I overheard a troubling conversation between two sets of grandparents. One was describing the upcoming trips and recreational activities they were planning with their peers from both Florida and New York, where they had residences. The other couple was struggling to determine if the man-hours they were dedicating to their small retail business was cost effective as their income was slowing to almost a halt. The inequity in their lifestyles was glaringly apparent. I wondered how there could be such disparity between two similarly situated families that emanated from similar communities and cultures, and that had earned similar wages over the many years of hard work. Clearly, one was financially prepared for a vibrant, long-lasting retirement, while the other was facing unsettled financial uncertainty in retirement. Had one family prepared better than the other?

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• Economics