How much should a 70 year old have in the stock market?

Asked by: Salvador Weissnat  |  Last update: October 4, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (67 votes)

Older investors in their 70s and over keep between 30% and 33% of their portfolio assets in U.S. stocks and between 5% and 7% in international stocks. Generally speaking, your age determines how much risk you're willing to take on your investments.

What is the average savings for a 70-year-old?

The Federal Reserve also measures median and mean (average) savings across other types of financial assets. According to the data, the average 70-year-old has approximately: $100,250 in transaction accounts (including checking and savings) $138,440 in certificate of deposit (CD) accounts.

What is a good portfolio for a 70-year-old?

For instance, a 70-year-old retiree might aim for 40% in equities and 60% in bonds or cash equivalents. Of course, this is a basic rule of thumb. Individual factors like risk tolerance, health, and retirement goals should also be considered when determining an asset allocation in retirement.

Should a 70-year-old get out of the stock market?

As a general statement, though, you probably wouldn't want any more than 30% of your assets in stocks after age 70 or so. Your tolerance for risk should naturally decline with time, since you're less concerned about return on investment and more concerned about maintain financial solvency. Good luck to you!

How much cash should a 70-year-old have on hand?

With those time ranges in mind, it may be reasonable to hold cash to cover one to two years of living expenses (beyond predictable Social Security and pension income) in addition to your daily use account. The exact amount you want to have also depends on your risk tolerance and the amount you have saved.

Can I Still Build Wealth at 70?

37 related questions found

Can I retire at 70 with $800000?

Can you retire on $800k? Yes, $800k provides a healthy nest egg that allows for annual withdrawals of around $60,000 or below, spanning 20 years. If this is sufficient to cover your retirement lifestyle, then $800k gives you an adequate buffer.

How much should I have in stocks at age 70?

Older investors in their 70s and over keep between 30% and 33% of their portfolio assets in U.S. stocks and between 5% and 7% in international stocks. Generally speaking, your age determines how much risk you're willing to take on your investments.

At what age should you stop investing in stocks?

The common rule of asset allocation by age is that you should hold a percentage of stocks that is equal to 100 minus your age. So if you're 40, you should hold 60% of your portfolio in stocks. Since life expectancy is growing, changing that rule to 110 minus your age or 120 minus your age may be more appropriate.

Where is the safest place to put your retirement money?

Treasuries are safe investments because they are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the US federal government. The US government has never defaulted on a debt obligation. One special category of treasury securities is Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). TIPS interest rates are indexed to inflation.

Is 70 too late to start investing?

(If you have additional questions about investing or retirement, this tool can help match you with potential advisors.) It's never too late to start investing, but starting in your late 60s will impact the options you have. Consider Social Security strategies, income sources and appropriate asset allocation.

Can I retire with a $500000 portfolio?

Yes, it is possible to retire comfortably on $500k. This amount allows for an annual withdrawal of $30,000 and below from the age of 60 to 85, covering 25 years. If $20,000 a year, or $1,667 a month, meets your lifestyle needs, then $500k is enough for your retirement.

What is the best portfolio for a retiree?

At age 60–69, consider a moderate portfolio (60% stock, 35% bonds, 5% cash/cash investments); 70–79, moderately conservative (40% stock, 50% bonds, 10% cash/cash investments); 80 and above, conservative (20% stock, 50% bonds, 30% cash/cash investments).

How many people have $1,000,000 in retirement savings?

Just 16% of retirees say they have more than $1 million saved, including all personal savings and assets, according to the recent CNBC Your Money retirement survey conducted with SurveyMonkey. In fact, among those currently saving for retirement, 57% say the amount they're hoping to save is less than $1 million.

What should a 70 year old be doing?

Reading, working puzzles, and learning new things are just some of the many brain-stimulating activities that can help seniors in their 70s maintain good brain health. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care.

What is the 10 5 3 rule?

The 10,5,3 rule will assist you in determining your investment's average rate of return. Though mutual funds offer no guarantees, according to this law, long-term equity investments should yield 10% returns, whereas debt instruments should yield 5%. And the average rate of return on savings bank accounts is around 3%.

Should seniors get out of the stock market?

The bigger issue is not what goes down this week, but what happened over the last year. The reality is that stocks do have market risk, but even those of you close to retirement or retired should stay invested in stocks to some degree in order to benefit from the upside over time.

What is the 110 rule?

A common asset allocation rule of thumb is the rule of 110. It is a simple way to figure out what percentage of your portfolio should be kept in stocks. To determine this number, you simply take 110 minus your age. So, if you are 40, then the rule states that 70% of your portfolio should be kept in stocks.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.

What stock does Warren Buffett recommend?

Top Warren Buffett Stocks

Kraft Heinz (KHC), 325.6 million. Apple (AAPL), 300 million. Occidental Petroleum (OXY), 264.3 million. American Express (AXP), 151.6 million.

How much cash should 70 year old have on hand?

It provides a buffer against unexpected expenses, market volatility, and ensures you have readily accessible funds when needed. For most retirees, having 1 to 2 years of expenses in cash is a prudent guideline, offering greater financial security and flexibility during retirement.

How much money does the average 70 year old have?

Americans in their 70s have an average retirement savings balance of $1,068,290; the median is $509,038, putting some 70-year-olds in the retirement millionaire bracket.

What is considered a good monthly retirement income?

Let's say you consider yourself the typical retiree. Between you and your spouse, you currently have an annual income of $120,000. 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.

How many people have $3000000 in savings?

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.