Born into a middle class family on Long Island, Amy grew up wanting to be a dancer but was forced to give up that dream when the family’s finances were diverted to health care for her sister.

Amy attended school on Long Island and ultimately graduated from Hofstra University. She taught school until she got married and moved to Florida with her husband. When the marriage failed, Amy returned to New York, settling in Manhattan and taking a sales job in opticals. She socialized in local clubs and discos, where she met her current husband.

Today, she is happily married and lives in Midtown East. Her husband is a real estate attorney and investor. She works as an office manager in his office.

Money is not much of a concern for Amy and her husband, who have profited handsomely from their investments in real estate. “I know that I will be fine financially for the rest of my years,” she says. “I will be able to live comfortably.”

Still, she worries about long-term care and other health issues. Amy is very proud that her mother was smart enough to buy long-term care insurance at a young age. Amy and her husband tried to buy long-term care insurance for themselves, but she was denied coverage because of an arthritic condition in her neck.

Amy is very appreciative of the life she lives. “My sister and her husband are both teachers. They are very busy and are raising two children. It’s tough for them to get by.”

Family is extremely important to Amy, and she spends Saturdays with her parents and nephews while her husband plays tennis. She enjoys giving gifts to family members, and she helps pay for her nephews’ education.

She also supports a number of charitable causes, usually anonymously. She is particularly interested in causes that help finance research for breast cancer, asthma, diabetes and other diseases that have afflicted her friends or family members.

Amy reflects the traits that define the first generation of affluent. She’s appreciative, energetic and hard-working. “My husband says that my tombstone should say, ‘If I rest, I rust.’”

Creating Perpetual Wealth provides a periodic glimpse inside the personal lives of the wealthy. The stories of these individuals are true, but all names are changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

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