Theory often suggests that wider household participation in stockholding reduces wealth inequality by expanding access. Empirical participation literature raises concerns that newcomers may be less educated, less sophisticated, and poorer. We use SCF data to decompose changes in wealth...

We calibrate a life-cycle model with uninsurable labor income risk and borrowing constraints to match wealth accumulation and portfolio allocation profiles of direct and indirect stockholders in both taxable and tax-deferred accounts. Tax-deferred accounts generate an increase in wealth...