Retirement savings includes employer-sponsored retirement plans, like 401(k)s, and individual retirement accounts, such as traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs or SEP IRAs. So, if you have $2 million in retirement savings, you are well ahead of the average American retiree.
What percentage of retirees have $2 million dollars? According to the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, only 3.2% of retirees possess more than $1 million in their retirement accounts. In fact, only about 1 in 10 retirees have even $1 million.
You retire at 55 – With an estimated life expectancy of 90, you need 35 years of income. Across those years, $2 million could equate to approximately $57,143 annually or $4,762 monthly.
For example, if you have retirement savings of $1 million, the 4% rule says that you can safely withdraw $40,000 per year during the first year — increasing this number for inflation each subsequent year — without running out of money within the next 30 years.
Depending on the source, the percentage of people with $1 million in their 401(k) hovers between 2% and 9.1%. Fidelity Investments reports that just 2% of their 401(k) participants have hit that milestone.
A retirement fund of $2 million can generate approximately $6,666 per month. However, if your retirement plans include activities like extensive travel abroad, you may require a higher monthly income. Additionally, your life expectancy should also be considered when planning your finances for retirement.
But how much does it take to be considered wealthy? A net worth of $2.5 million is what Americans think it takes to earn the wealthy moniker, according to Charles Schwab's annual Modern Wealth survey. That seven-figure sum is up 14% from a year ago, when survey respondents thought amassing $2.2 million was enough.
Probably 1 in every 20 families have a net worth exceeding $3 Million, but most people's net worth is their homes, cars, boats, and only 10% is in savings, so you would typically have to have a net worth of $30 million, which is 1 in every 1000 families.
Living off the interest of a $2 million investment is possible, but it depends on the interest rate and the person's expenses. Generally, a 4-5% annual return is a safe estimate, which would be $80,000-$100,000 per year.
Rich retirees: In the 90th percentile, with net worth starting at $1.9 million, this group has much more financial freedom and is able to afford luxuries and legacy planning.
Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. It's the total value of all your assets—including your house, cars, investments and cash—minus your liabilities (things like credit card debt, student loans, and what you still owe on your mortgage).
Meanwhile, a $2 million retirement account will provide you 25 years of $80,000 in annual income -- based on the 4% retirement rule. In general, the rule says that you should only withdraw up to 4% of your retirement savings each year, and adjust for inflation annually, to make your savings last for about 30 years.
To be part of the top 1% in the U.S., a household's net worth needs to be at least $13.6 million. This measure includes everything you own – homes, investments, savings – minus debts. Wealth tends to be a lot more unevenly distributed than income.
If you're eyeing a reliable income during retirement, consider an annuity. It's like a financial security blanket, giving you a steady paycheck when you stop working. So, how much can you pocket monthly from a $2 million annuity? Your monthly payout could be anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000.
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In 2024, Americans stated that the average net worth they consider “wealthy” is $2.5 million. That's up by $300,000 over last year, when Americans said $2.2 million qualified you as rich.
What are the average and median retirement savings? The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940, according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. The median retirement savings for all families is $87,000.
Dated ways of describing someone worth n millions are "n-fold millionaire" and "millionaire n times over". Still commonly used is multimillionaire, which refers to individuals with net assets of 2 million or more of a currency.
The Minimum Salary To Be Upper-Middle Class
To be part of the top 20% of the middle class, you need to earn $106,092 and $149,160, — depending on your geographic location — according to a recent study by GOBankingRates.
Do you include a 401(k) in a net worth calculation? All of your retirement accounts are included as assets in your net worth calculation. That includes 401(k)s, IRAs and taxable savings accounts.
Yes, it is possible to live off the interest of $2 million, but it depends on your lifestyle, expenses, and how the money is invested. If you were to invest in a diversified portfolio with an average return of 4%, you could generate around $80,000 annually in interest.
The Bottom Line
A retirement account with $2 million should be enough to make most people comfortable. With an average income, you can expect it to last 35 years or more. However, everyone's retirement expectations and needs are different.
According to estimates based on the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, a mere 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts. The number of those with $2 million or more is even smaller, falling somewhere between this 3.2% and the 0.1% who have $5 million or more saved.