Baby boomers enjoy 'dream' lives

The over 50s control the bulk of the nation's wealth

People in their 50s - the so-called baby boomer generation - enjoy "dream" living standards, a report says.

In fact, the over-50s control 80% of the UK's wealth built on the back of soaring house prices.

But people in their 30s and even 40s face a less stable later life, with many struggling with the burden of mortgages and personal debt.

The report sponsored by insurer Friends Provident concluded that younger people needed to boost their savings.

'Money to spare'

"The baby boomers find themselves in a unique position - they've worked through periods of relative economic prosperity and have experienced rocketing house prices which means many of them now have money to spare," said Friends Provident spokesman Jeremy Ward.

Interestingly, nearly one in four people aged over 50 works purely for the social contact rather than out of financial necessity, the report found.

But Mr Ward added that it was "a different story" for younger people.

"If they want to enjoy the same sort of freedom and choices [as baby boomers] they need to start planning for their future now."

You Gov surveyed nearly 3,500 adults over the age of 35 for the report.