In case you didn’t know, the top 1% of households in America holds about 40% of the country’s wealth.  If you’re wondering how that relates to you, an average, middle-class earner, it basically means that there’s a lot less money to spread around between a lot more people.  You should also know that the uber wealthy are not looking to give any of it back any time soon.  And thanks to Wells Fargo and their new bank for the wealthy elite, they should have no problem hanging onto their money and even making it grow (reducing the amount of money left for everyone else).

While few Americans would admit to socialist leanings, even today, it just seems like there’s something wrong with this equation, especially considering that studies have shown that those with wealth (the top 1%) have seen significantly less impact from the recession than the rest of the population, losing a much smaller percentage of assets.  But it is probably for this exact reason that Wells Fargo has chosen to target this demographic.  Banks are losing money just like everyone else and it looks like at least one institution is making the smart move by going straight to the source.

This exclusive new bank will be called Abbot Downing, and the name is indeed apt.  For those unfamiliar with the title, it comes from a 19^th century coach company of the same name (from partners Lewis Downing and J. Stephens Abbot) that was famous for producing stage coaches that catered to wealthy citizens looking to travel in luxury.  In fact, their best-known coach was the Concord, which may put you in mind of an elite form of travel that certain wealthy persons enjoy today.  In any case, the name of the game was exclusivity, and the new iteration of Abbot Downing couldn’t get much more selective when it comes to clients; anyone wishing to gain membership to the bank must cough up a minimum of $50 million in investments.

Surprisingly, it doesn’t look like they’ll have much trouble filling the roster.  They’ve reportedly secured $27.5 billion in commitments from interested parties already, and they’re not set to open until April of next year.  However, they do seem to be offering some perks in exchange for the 8+ figures that patrons will have to pony up.  Their staff of 300 will include not only standard professionals that can advise customers on issues such as cash flow, investments, and transfer of wealth, but the bank will also employ psychologists that can help with matters of family legacy (and education) as well as leadership transfer (in the case of companies being handed down, or even just managing a wealthy estate).  They’ll also have an expert on hand for the sole purpose of building family genealogies.  Oh, the problems the uber wealthy must face.

The main branch of Abbot Downing will open in Chicago, but there will also be branches in a handful of other cities, like Philadelphia, Denver, Houston, and Los Angeles, to name a few.  Of course, they don’t need very many facilities when their targeted patrons are literally one in a thousand.  And while most Americans may be disgusted by Wells Fargo’s blatant money grab, the truth is that it’s just good business.  They’re offering a service to those with the money to pay for it, and most of their competitors are probably kicking themselves that they didn’t think of it first.  After all, targeting a small, wealthy segment of the population means a lot more money for a lot less work.

Emma Martin is a contributing writer for assettags.co.uk where you can find security labels and adhesives to help prevent theft.

There are myriad ways in which you can choose to invest your hard-earned money.  You may sock it away in pre-tax retirement accounts like a 401K or Roth IRA.  Or you could play it safe with a savings account and bank-backed certificates of deposit.  On the other hand, you might decide to go for broke and play the stock market.  More likely, though, you’ll opt for an investment plant that includes a diverse array of investments that such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, various savings accounts, and perhaps even commodities like gold or silver.  Even assets like your home could be part of your long-term investment strategy.  But in troubled economic times like these, you need to protect all of your investments if you want them to pay off.  So here are just a few ways to do so.

1. Roll over accounts.  If you’re nearing the age of retirement and you’re worried about losing the money you’ve carefully invested in your retirement accounts over the years, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t protect your funds by rolling them over into low-risk options like bonds (since you should be able to do so without incurring any penalties).  You’ve basically accumulated all that you’re going to, and if it is enough to live out your retirement, a low interest rate may sound a lot more appealing than the possibility of future losses.
2. Consider stocks.  Most people think that this is a terrible time to invest in the market, but that’s not really true.  If you already have stocks and you’re losing money on them, you may want to sell in order to cut your losses.  But if you’re just getting into investing and you think you’re better off playing it safe, you may want to think again.  Many reliable companies are suffering from low stock prices right now, but that only means that they stand to rebound over time.  So some solid advice from your broker could help you to choose the stocks that are going to show a significant return in a few years.
3. Look into global investments.  Diversity is the name of the game when it comes to making safe investments and protecting your capital.  Although some growing countries (like China) are enjoying premium rates at the moment, which may prompt you to steer clear of investing there, overall the global economy may be a safer bet than the national one.
4. Ask for proof.  Most brokers will send you regular reports regarding your investment portfolio, but if they give you the runaround or send you only company printouts (like Madoff is rumored to have done), you can bet that something isn’t right.  A broker on the up and up will have stocks registered with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), along with paperwork to that effect.  And he should be willing, at any time, to provide you with proper documentation regarding your investments and your account statements.  And if it seems too good to be true (low risk, high reward) it probably is.
5. Insure your property.  Not all investments are on paper.  You can also consider assets, properties in particular, to be investments since they stand to appreciate over time and show a significant return.  But in order for housing to pay off, you need to keep it safe.  That means getting it insured, performing proper maintenance, and potentially even doing upgrades to increase value.

Emma Martin is a contributing writer for Hologuard, where you can find security labels and adhesives that protect against theft.

With the economy in such a poor state, even those who have a ton of dough may be rethinking major purchases like homes and automobiles.  But that doesn’t mean that the millionaires among us won’t drop a lot of cash on the motorcycle of their dreams (hey, it will save on the cost at the pump, so it’s okay to spend a little more!).  Yeah, if only we all had these problems.  But at least we can dream of the day when our lotto ship comes sailing in; and just in case it’s sooner rather than later, here are a few motorcycles worthy of a millionaire.

1. MV-Augusta F4CC.  If you don’t know about the MV brand, then you may not realize that the director put his own name on this bike (the initials “CC” stand for Claudio Castiglione).  That’s because he conceived this bike for his own use and made sure it was exactly what he wanted in a world class motorbike.  With 90% handmade parts, a killer engine and lightweight frame that can rocket you down the road at 195 mph, and only 100 bikes off the production line (each one bears a platinum plate with a number 1-100), it should come as no surprise that the price tag starts at $120,000.
2. MTT Turbine Superbike.  If you want to look like Robocop speeding down the highway, this may be the bike for you.  It looks something like a battering ram on wheels, with armor plating covering practically the entire front half.  However, considering it is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most powerful motorcycle to ever enter series production (boasting a Rolls Royce engine that produces 425 foot pounds of torque and 320 hp), you can expect it to move along at a respectable clip, despite its top-heavy appearance.  At $150,000, you wouldn’t expect anything less, and as an owner of this bike you can count yourself in the company of car-loving legends like Jay Leno.
3. Macchia Nera concept bike.  This isn’t the most expensive bike in the world (coming in at $201,000), but considering it is a concept bike (meaning it never made it to the production line) it could be the biggest “get” on this list.  Those who would like an idea of the engine power this bike provides are in luck since it’s a Ducati model (the 998RS), but only the owner of this singular creation will know how the bike itself handles, with ultra-lightweight alloy metal components and construction that led one reviewer to dub it “the ultimate track bike” (as if anyone would subject it to the rigors of a race course).
4. Dodge Tomahawk V10 Superbike.  If the MTT Turbine Superbike looks like a battering ram, this pricy two-wheeler is more like a tank.  There are actually four wheels on this bike, although they are situated to look like two very wide wheels, front and back.  And at 1,500 pounds you might think this bike would be stodgy.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The V10 engine can take the needle close to 400 mph for the rider that is daring enough to try (the 0-60 is an impressive 2.5 seconds).  Sadly (and unsurprisingly) this bike is not street legal in the U.S.  But if you want one anyway, get ready to pay: the cost of ownership is $555,000.
5. Brough Superior SS100.  If you’re just not into the newer models on the market, perhaps you should set your sights on classic bikes, complete with motorcycle boots, helmets, and leather jackets of the era.  In this regard, you can’t do any better than the bike custom-made by Englishman George Brough in the 1920s.  It was the fastest bike of its time and was ridden by the rich and famous (like Lawrence of Arabia).  However, it isn’t cheap.  The SS100 became the highest priced classic motorcycle in the world when one sold at auction last year for an incredible $442,000.