Is 55 a good age to retire?

Asked by: Janie Greenfelder  |  Last update: February 9, 2022
Score: 4.8/5 (52 votes)

If you want to retire in your 50s, it is perfectly legal. It's important to remember that 55 is not the average age for retirement—Social Security's normal retirement age is 66 and four months — or 67. The higher age means you have to wait until then to start receiving Social Security benefits.

How much do I need to retire at 55?

How Much Money Do I Need To Retire At 55? If your goal is to retire at age 55, Fidelity recommends that you save at least seven times your annual income. That means if your annual income is $70,000 a year, you need to save $490,000.

Is retiring at 55 too early?

Can I Legally Retire at 55? There's nothing in the retirement rulebook that says you can't retire at 55 years old. In fact, some members of the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) movement aim to retire as early as 40. So it's perfectly legal to retire in your mid-50s if that's your goal.

What is the best age to retire?

If instead they wait until age 70, they stand to get the largest possible benefits. Research from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College shows that Americans mostly tend to claim retirement benefits either around 62 or their full retirement age as defined by Social Security.

What are the benefits of retiring at 55?

Some Pros of Retiring Early
  • It could be good for your health.
  • You'll enjoy more time to travel.
  • It's an opportunity to start a new career.
  • It could be bad for your health.
  • Your Social Security benefits will be smaller.
  • Your retirement savings will have to last longer.
  • You'll need to find health insurance.

Three Ways to Retire by Age 55

27 related questions found

What is the rule of 55?

The rule of 55 is an IRS regulation that allows certain older Americans to withdraw money from their 401(k)s without incurring the customary 10% penalty for early withdrawals made before age 59 1/2.

How will retiring at 55 affect my Social Security?

The SSA doesn't penalize working retirees forever. You'll receive all of the benefits the government withheld after you reach your full retirement age. At that time, the SSA recalculates your benefit amount.

Should I retire 57?

So, is 57 a good age to retire? The answer is both a Yes and a No. It's a Yes because you may sign up for retirement at any age and the resignation will vary from person to person. ... Back in the days, most people waited until the late 60s or early 70s to retire, though American citizens choose to retire much earlier.

What is the average age of retirement in 2020?

At 62, the average retirement age was the highest Gallup reported in its 20 years of tracking retirement trends. Even in pre-pandemic 2019 and in 2020, the average retirement age was 61. At the same time, 2021's expected retirement age of 64 was lower than in previous years: It was 66 in 2020 and 65 in 2019.

How can I retire with no savings?

Without savings, it will be difficult to maintain in retirement the same lifestyle that you had in your working years. You may need to make adjustments such as moving into a smaller home or apartment; forgoing extras such as cable television, an iPhone, or a gym membership; or driving a less expensive car.

How can I retire at 55?

In the UK there are currently no age restrictions on retirement and generally, you can access your pension pot from as early as 55.

Do those who retire early live longer?

Working an extra year decreases mortality rates by 11%, a new analysis shows.

Can you retire at 55 with a million dollars?

Can I retire at 55 with $1 million? Yes, you can retire at 55 with one million dollars. At age 55, an annuity will provide a guaranteed level income of $42,000 annually starting immediately, for the rest of the insured's lifetime. The income will stay the same and never decrease.

What is a good monthly retirement income?

Median retirement income for seniors is around $24,000; however, average income can be much higher. On average, seniors earn between $2000 and $6000 per month. Older retirees tend to earn less than younger retirees. It's recommended that you save enough to replace 70% of your pre-retirement monthly income.

Can I retire at 60 with 500k?

Can I retire on $500k plus Social Security? Yes, you can! The average monthly Social Security Income check-in 2021 is $1,543 per person.

How much money do you need to retire with $200 000 a year income?

How Much Do You Need To Retire With $200,000 a Year In Income? After researching 326 annuity products from 57 insurance companies, our data calculated that $3,809,524 would immediately generate $200,000 annually for the rest of a person's life starting at age 60, guaranteed.

How much money does the average person retire with?

According to this survey by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, the median retirement savings by age in the U.S. is: Americans in their 20s: $16,000. Americans in their 30s: $45,000. Americans in their 40s: $63,000.

What is US retirement age 2021?

The full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960 until it reaches 67. For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

How long does the average person live after they retire?

A paper attributed to the aircraft-maker Boeing shows that employees who retire at 55 live to, on average, 83. But those who retire at 65 only last, on average, another 18 months. The "Boeing study" has been quoted by newspapers, magazines and pundits. It's circulated on the internet for years.

Is 56 too early to retire?

Leaving the workforce before the traditional age of 65 is typically considered early retirement. You can start collecting Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but you won't receive your full benefits.

Is 58 too early to retire?

When asked when they plan to retire, most people say between 65 and 67. But according to a Gallup survey the average age that people actually retire is 61. ... 55 – Although in most cases, you can't take money from your 401(k) until age 59½ without paying a 10% penalty, there are some exceptions to that rule.

Why retiring at 62 is a good idea?

Reason #1: Retire Early if You Want to Stay Healthier Longer

But not all work is good for you; sometimes it's detrimental to your health. Retiring at 62 from a backbreaking job or one with a disproportionately high level of stress can help you retain, or regain, your good health and keep it longer.

Is Social Security based on the last 5 years of work?

Social Security benefits are based on your lifetime earnings. Your actual earnings are adjusted or “indexed” to account for changes in average wages since the year the earnings were received. Then Social Security calculates your average indexed monthly earnings during the 35 years in which you earned the most.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

At 65 to 67, depending on the year of your birth, you are at full retirement age and can get full Social Security retirement benefits tax-free.

How much do you lose if you retire early?

In the case of early retirement, a benefit is reduced 5/9 of one percent for each month before normal retirement age, up to 36 months. If the number of months exceeds 36, then the benefit is further reduced 5/12 of one percent per month.