The population of affluent and wealthy individuals in North America will grow to 37.7 million in 2010, a 24 per cent increase from 30.4 mill...

The population of affluent and wealthy individuals in North America will grow to 37.7 million in 2010, a 24 per cent increase from 30.4 million people in 20 million households today, according to a new report by US research and advisory firm Celent. The report looks at the three major wealth management client segments; mass affluents with projected 2010 assets of $7.2 trillion, up from $5.8 trillion today, high net worth individuals with projected 2010 assets of $7.9 trillion, and ultra-high net worth individuals with projected assets of $4.2 trillion in 2010. The report says that in 2006, the high and ultra-high net worth segments controlled just $6.6 trillion. For the wealthiest North American households, the report projects a 77 per cent increase in assets over the next four years.