Do you have the top predictor for financial well-being? Here's what Vanguard's research says.

It doesn't take $1 million to achieve the top predictor of financial well-being, according to new research from investment firm Vanguard. Instead, it's something far more attainable: Socking away at least $2,000 in an emergency savings account. 

People with at least $2,000 saved for an unexpected expense report a greater improvement in financial well-being than those who have incomes of more than $500,000 or assets of more than $1 million, the survey of more than 12,000 Vanguard investors found. 

The findings come as many Americans are feeling more financially stressed, with a separate study from Primerica finding that about half of middle-class households expect to be worse off financially in 2026, almost double the share in December, due to worries about the cost of living and the economy. Taking small steps to build an emergency savings account could prove to help alleviate financial anxiety, noted Paulo Costa, a behavioral economist and certified financial planner at Vanguard who co-authored the research.