In today's economy, about half of households are financially insecure. It's even worse for those who have children. The yearly thresholds for achieving financial security range from roughly $62,700 for one-person households over age 65, to $169,300 for families with two or more adults and three or more kids.

If you asked your grandparents what the American Dream meant, they might opine on the classic tale of hard work leading to homeownership with the white picket fence, perhaps in a quiet neighborhood where everyone knew each other.