For most people, it will be little or no problem to retire at age 65 if they have $2.5 million in savings. This amount of capital invested prudently is likely to provide sufficient income for a lifestyle comfortable enough to satisfy a large majority of retirees.
Although 65 is a conventional retirement age, reaching this point with $2 million is quite a feat. This sum can generate investment and interest income to support you well in the decades to come. However, saving this amount takes effort. And it's crucial to allocate it properly among asset types.
A nest egg of $2.5 million is likely to be adequate for most retirees to retire in comfort for as long as they live. Variables that could affect this include healthcare costs, inflation, market downturns and life expectancy.
Withdrawing 4% annually from a $2.5 million portfolio would generate $100,000 in retirement income. This covers the $70,000 income replacement target, with a nice cushion of $30,000 per year. For most people, savings represent only one source of potential income in retirement.
According to data from the Federal Reserve's most recent Survey of Consumer Finances, the average 65 to 74-year-old has a little over $426,000 saved.
The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940 according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. Taken on their own, those numbers aren't incredibly helpful. There are a variety of decent retirement savings benchmarks out there, but how much money other people have isn't one of them.
For most people, it will be little or no problem to retire at age 65 if they have $2.5 million in savings. This amount of capital invested prudently is likely to provide sufficient income for a lifestyle comfortable enough to satisfy a large majority of retirees. And some variables that could change.
According to EBRI estimates based on the latest Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts, while just 0.1% have $5 million or more. However, there's a surprising amount of information to unpack.
A $2 million nest egg can provide $80,000 of annual income when the principal gives a return of 4%. This estimate is on the conservative side, making $80,000 a solid benchmark for retirement income with this sum of money.
Being rich currently means having a net worth of about $2.2 million. However, this number fluctuates over time, and you can measure wealth according to your financial priorities. As a result, healthy financial habits, like spending less than you make, are critical to becoming wealthy, no matter your definition.
The 95th percentile, with a net worth of $3.2 million, is considered wealthy, facilitating estate planning and possibly owning multiple homes. The top 1%, or the 99th percentile, has a net worth of $16.7 million and represents the very wealthy, who enjoy considerable financial freedom and luxury.
Based on the 80% principle, you can expect to need about $96,000 in annual income after you retire, which is $8,000 per month.
1,821,745 Households in the United States Have Investment Portfolios Worth $3,000,000 or More.
The bottom line
$3 million in retirement savings should more than adequately fund your existence and expenses as a retiree, allowing you a high degree of financial freedom and comfort in your later life. This large sum of money will insulate you until your passing.
Financial professionals break down the category into three classifications of wealth: High-net-worth individuals. HNWIs are people or households who own liquid assets valued between $1 million and $5 million. Very-high-net-worth individuals.
Someone who has $1 million in liquid assets, for instance, is usually considered to be a high net worth (HNW) individual. You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth.
Among the 47 million households headed by someone age 60 or older, 7% had household investable assets of at least $2 million, Drinkwater said. Only 6% of the 89 million households in the U.S. headed by someone 40 to 85 years old has that amount, Drinkwater said.
The average net worth for a 60-year-old in America is about $200,000 in 2022. However, for the above-average 60 year old who is very focused on his or her finances has an average net worth closer to $2,000,000.
With careful money management, and including Social Security, you can probably plan for a retirement income of more than $150,000 per year with a $2.5 million nest egg. Consider working with a financial advisor to build a retirement income plan suited to your needs.
In general, you will need roughly 70% to 90% of your pre-retirement income to continue your standard of living in retirement. As a couple, the good news is that, along with having to plan for the expenses of two people, you can plan on having two people's income and savings.
It's recommended that most couples save at least seven to eight times their combined annual income to retire comfortably.
Nearly 2 in 5 Retirees Have No Retirement Savings
The survey found that about 37% of retirees say they have no retirement savings, up from 30% in 2022, and only about 12% have at least the recommended $555,000 in savings.
What Is The National Average For Retirement Savings? The national average for retirement savings varies depending on age, but according to the Economic Policy Institute, the median retirement savings for all working age households in the US is around $95,776.
As of December 2023, the average check is $1,767.03, according to the Social Security Administration – but that amount can differ drastically depending on the type of recipient.