Is 8% for retirement good?

Asked by: Michelle Harber DDS  |  Last update: July 27, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (61 votes)

The 75% income replacement rate ballpark figure is based on reducing your spending at retirement by 5% and saving 8% of your gross household income during your working years. We chose 8% because it's about the average that people are saving in their retirement accounts. (See “Income Needed in Retirement.”)

Is 8% 401k contribution good?

You should contribute at least 8%, assuming you can. If you can contribute more without strapping yourself, you can do that as well. By contributing the 8%, you're automatically getting an 8% return with your company match.

What is the 8% retirement rule?

Ramsey firmly believes that retirees can safely withdraw 8% of their portfolio's starting value each year, adjusted for inflation, without depleting their principal. However, many critics almost unanimously agree that this advice is unrealistic and potentially dangerous.

What is a good percentage for a retirement fund?

Most investors should save at least 15% of their income for retirement. Your age, income, and current savings can help gauge how much you should save going forward. If you're off target, start recalibrating as soon as possible.

What is Dave Ramsey's 8% retirement rule?

According to Ramsey, an aggressive portfolio comprising equities and with a 3% inflation rate factored in can easily help retirees withdraw at an 8% high retirement withdrawal rate while still allowing their investments to grow. However, many financial advisors challenge the notion.

What Rate of Return Should I Expect? (Is 8% Too Aggressive?)

27 related questions found

Can I retire at 57 with $500,000?

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.

Is 10% retirement good?

Overall, the EBRI simulation model suggests that, in the income ranges of most millennials, a contribution rate of 10% starting in a worker's mid-20s cuts the risk of running out of money in retirement to about 30%, less than one chance in three. Contributing more than 10% when you can will give you a better cushion.

What are the golden rules of retirement?

Evaluating the retirement corpus taking into account the inflation rate, choosing the right retirement solutions, increasing the investment with an increase in your income, revising the plans, and staying invested for a longer period are five golden rules to keep your retirement plans on track.

Is $300,000 a good retirement amount?

Ideally, the rate of return on your investments is enough for you to live off of, so you never need to touch your principal. With $300,000 in your retirement savings and factoring in the average annual rate of return between 10–12%, you'll have between $30,000 and $36,000 to live off of each year.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000-a-month rule for retirement states that you'll need $240,000 in savings for every $1,000 of monthly retirement income. The rule assumes a 5% annual withdrawal rate. So if you want $4,000 in monthly retirement income from investments, you'd need to save at least $960,000.

What is the 7% rule for retirement?

What is the 7 Percent Rule? In contrast to the more conservative 4% rule, the 7 percent rule suggests retirees can withdraw 7% of their total retirement corpus in the first year of retirement, with subsequent annual adjustments for inflation.

Is 7% too much for 401k?

In this case, a good rule of thumb that still has a profound positive impact on your retirement savings is to contribute just enough to receive the full employer match. So if your employer will match up to 7% of your contributions, only contribute 7% so you can take full advantage of that extra money.

How much money do you need to retire with $100,000 a year income?

There are guidelines to help you set one if you're looking for a single number to be your retirement nest egg goal. Some advisors recommend saving 12 times your annual salary. 12 A 66-year-old $100,000-per-year earner would need $1.2 million at retirement under this rule.

What does 8% 401k match mean?

To get the maximum amount of 401(k) match, you must put in 6%. If you put in more, say 8%, your employer will still only match half of 6% of your salary, because that's their max. The employer can determine the matching parameters.

What is the best rule for retirement?

One frequently used rule of thumb for retirement spending is known as the 4% rule. It's relatively simple: You add up all of your investments, and withdraw 4% of that total during your first year of retirement. In subsequent years, you adjust the dollar amount you withdraw to account for inflation.

What is the 80 20 retirement rule?

Reducing expenses: The 80/20 rule for investing can also help you identify the 20% of expenses that are responsible for 80% of your income – money that can be channeled into your retirement savings. By focusing on reducing these expenses, you can free up more money to save.

Is $10,000 a month good retirement?

In a world in which the average monthly Social Security benefit is just over $1,792, it may seem like a pipe dream to live off $10,000 per month in retirement. But the truth is that with some preparation, dedication and resolve, many Americans can reach this impressive level of retirement income.

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.

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.

How long will $1 million last in retirement?

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.

What is the average social security payment?

According to the Social Security Administration, or SSA, the monthly retirement benefit for Social Security recipients is currently $1,783.55 in 2024 on average. Several factors can drag that average up or down, but you have the most control over the biggest variable of all — the age that you decide to cash in.