Predicting mid-life capital formation with pre-school delay of gratification and life-course measures of self-regulation

•Self-regulation composite (preschool & ages 17-37) predicts capital formation at 46.•Preschool delay of gratification alone does not predict capital formation at 46.•The composite is more predictive partly because it consists of many items.•No evidence of more predictive power for self-regulation reported later in life.