Research by HSBC Premier has found that millionaire status is still the benchmark for the UK's wealth generators. The UK's self-made affluent, known as SMARTIES, believe that owning assets of at least £909,600 ($1,854,257) spread across cash savings, shares and mortgage free property, are essential before they would consider someone to be "wealthy". The research was restricted to a sample of the most affluent six per cent of the UK population who own liquid assets worth over £50,000. The vast majority of this group own less than £909,600 and therefore do not consider themselves to be wealthy. “Today’s generation of wealthy consumers have not necessarily experienced affluence all their lives, and their new status has been borne out of hard work and saving for the long-term," said HSBC’s head of product development Andy Ripley. "Evidence from our Premier customers mirrors this research. The vast majority don’t own investments worth one million pounds, however their financial needs are becoming increasingly complex, more often than not due to travel, owning property abroad and simply needing to manage their growing wealth.” HSBC Premier estimate there could be as many as 2.8 million potential ‘SMARTIES’ in the UK and they are likely to be generating income from both a high salary and a variety of assets making wealth management a more suitable option than regular banking facilities. The research also highlighted that Britons who have inherited their wealth are becoming significantly outnumbered by the SMARTIES generation. The findings show that only eight per cent of Britain’s mass-affluent population inherited their wealth.