At age 45, financial planners generally recommend having three to four times your annual salary saved for retirement, including RRSP, TFSA, and employer pension assets. For a $100,000 income, this means a target of $300,000 to $400,000, though average Canadian RRSP balances in this age range are often significantly lower, typically around $150,000.
Annual income: $100,000
Retirement savings by age 40: $200,000 to $300,000. Retirement savings by age 45: $300,000 to $400,000.
For a 45-year-old in Australia, average super balances vary by gender, but generally fall in the range of $130,000 to $230,000 for men and $90,000 to $150,000 for women, with some sources showing men averaging around $180,000-$230,000 and women around $130,000-$150,000 in the 45-49 age bracket, though these figures can differ based on the data source and whether it's average (mean) or median.
For many, this may not be realistic, but try to get as close to this number as you can. If you begin saving five years earlier, at age 45, you'll have a little more flexibility, but your budget will still be tight. You'd need to save $1,7000 a month to retire with $1 million.
Roughly 7% to 9% of American households have $500,000 or more in retirement savings, though figures vary slightly by source, with data from late 2025 suggesting around 7.2% and older 2022 data indicating about 9%, showing it's a significant milestone achieved by less than one in ten families, despite higher averages driven by wealthy individuals.
The short answer: to retire on $80,000 a year in Australia, you'll need a super balance of roughly between $700,000 and $1.4 million. It's a broad range, and that's because everyone's circumstances are different.
Yes, retiring at 40 with $2 million is possible but challenging, requiring a lean lifestyle, low-cost-of-living location, and careful management of long-term costs like healthcare, as $2 million needs to last potentially 50+ years, necessitating a sustainable withdrawal rate (like the 4% rule for ~$80k/year) plus income diversification (Social Security later, part-time work) to combat inflation and market volatility.
Yes, you can live off the interest/returns from $500,000, but it depends heavily on your lifestyle and expenses, with the common 4% rule suggesting about $20,000 annually, which may require a frugal lifestyle, relocation, or significant Social Security income to supplement. With smart investing (e.g., balanced stock/bond mix) and minimal spending, it's feasible for many, but living in a high-cost area or with high expenses would make it difficult.
From age 62-66, you might only need to withdraw $35,000-$36,000 annually from savings. Once Social Security kicks in, you may need to withdraw just $10,000-$12,000. In this case, your $1 million could last 30+ years, depending on investment performance and inflation.
At 45, a good financial goal is roughly 3 to 4 times your annual salary saved, with the typical American (age 45-54) having a median net worth around $247,000, though averages are much higher due to outliers. Your personal target depends on your income and lifestyle, but aiming for substantial savings for retirement is key as compounding works its magic in your mid-40s.
4 common 401(k) mistakes to avoid
Recommended 401(k) balances often use salary multiples, like having 1x your salary by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, and 10x by retirement (age 67), though averages vary significantly by age group, with younger savers having less and older savers (55-64) often holding over $250k on average, but still needing more for a comfortable retirement. Key benchmarks suggest aiming for 10-15% total savings (including employer match) and increasing contributions as you earn more, using catch-up contributions after 50.
Using a simple drawdown calculator, $2 million would last about 34 years before running out. That means if you retire at 65, your portfolio could last until age 99 –, enough for most Australians.
A good retirement nest egg aims to replace 80% of your pre-retirement income, often needing 10-12 times your final salary saved by age 67, but the exact amount varies widely based on lifestyle, desired retirement age, location, and expenses like healthcare. Key benchmarks include saving 1x salary by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60, and 10x by 67, with a 15% savings rate of your income being a strong general goal.
The top ten financial mistakes most people make after retirement are:
Becoming a 401(k) millionaire represents a significant milestone in retirement planning. According to recent data, the average age at which individuals attain this status is 59 years old, typically after 26 years of consistent contributions to their retirement plans.
Yes, you can live off the interest/returns from $500,000, but it depends heavily on your lifestyle and expenses, with the common 4% rule suggesting about $20,000 annually, which may require a frugal lifestyle, relocation, or significant Social Security income to supplement. With smart investing (e.g., balanced stock/bond mix) and minimal spending, it's feasible for many, but living in a high-cost area or with high expenses would make it difficult.
Empower Personal DashboardTM data shows 9.1% of people fall into the category of 401(k) millionaire as of September 30, 2025, having accumulated at least $1 million in retirement savings in employer-sponsored plans and individually controlled IRA savings and investment accounts.