Other types of debt—personal loans, credit cards, and auto loans, for example—tend to have higher interest rates and lack any potential tax benefits. These kinds of debt should "retire" before you do, because they can eat into your savings and reduce your standard of living.
He recommends keeping a cash reserve of three to six months' worth of living expenses in case of emergency. You carry higher-interest debt: Before you pay off your mortgage, first pay off any higher-interest loans—especially nondeductible debt from sources like credit cards.
One example is the $1,000/month rule. Created by Wes Moss, a Certified Financial Planner, this strategy helps individuals visualize how much savings they should have in retirement. According to Moss, you should plan to have $240,000 saved for every $1,000 of disposable income in retirement.
Paying off your mortgage may not be in your best interest if: You have to withdraw money from tax-advantaged retirement plans such as your 403(b), 401(k) or IRA. This withdrawal would be considered a distribution by the IRS and could push you into a higher tax bracket.
Top the amount with 401(k) savings, living on $3,000 a month after taxes is possible for a retiree. For those who only have social security benefits to rely on, there are many places where they can retire on their checks both in the USA and around the world.
The average American spends $4,345 per month in retirement, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's $52,141 per year.
Financial planners often recommend replacing about 80% of your pre-retirement income to sustain the same lifestyle after you retire. This means that, if you earn $100,000 per year, you'd aim for at least $80,000 of income (in today's dollars) in retirement.
Age doesn't matter. Counterintuitive as it may sound, your loan application for a mortgage to be repaid over 30 years looks the same to lenders whether you are 90 years old or 40.
“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O'Leary has said the ideal age to be debt-free is 45, especially if you want to retire by age 60. Being debt-free — including paying off your mortgage — by your mid-40s puts you on the early path toward success, O'Leary argued.
For many retirees, being free of mortgage payments in time for retirement is becoming a thing of the past. The oldest segment of baby boomers—individuals born between 1946 and 1951—are far less likely to have paid off their mortgage prior to retirement, according to TIAA.
The 4% rule is a popular retirement withdrawal strategy that suggests retirees can safely withdraw the amount equal to 4% of their savings during the year they retire and then adjust for inflation each subsequent year for 30 years.
The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals. Let's take a closer look at each category.
According to the 4% rule, if you retire with $500,000 in assets, you should be able to withdraw $20,000 per year for 30 years or more. Moreover, investing this money in an annuity could provide a guaranteed annual income of $24,688 for those retiring at 55.
Other types of debt—personal loans, credit cards, and auto loans, for example—tend to have higher interest rates and lack any potential tax benefits. These kinds of debt should "retire" before you do, because they can eat into your savings and reduce your standard of living.
There's no doubt that not having any debt can give you a certain sense of freedom. When you don't owe anything to anybody, the money you have is yours to do with as you wish—a great retirement dream scenario.
Follow the 3% Rule for an Average Retirement
If you are fairly confident you won't run out of money, begin by withdrawing 3% of your portfolio annually. Adjust based on inflation but keep an eye on the market, as well.
They stay away from debt.
One of the biggest myths out there is that average millionaires see debt as a tool. Not true. If they want something they can't afford, they save and pay cash for it later. Car payments, student loans, same-as-cash financing plans—these just aren't part of their vocabulary.
The most common amount of time, or “mortgage term,” is 30 years in the U.S., but some mortgage terms can be as short as 10 years. Most people with a 30-year mortgage won't keep the original loan for 30 years.
When you pay off your mortgage, your lender will provide you with documents to show you have paid off your home loan in full. You must collect all the necessary paperwork, and in some cases, escrow funds, before you can consider yourself finished with your mortgage.
As long as your income comes from an acceptable source, it shouldn't prevent you from getting approved for a mortgage. If you receive Social Security income, you can use it to qualify for a mortgage. But whether you'll ultimately be approved will depend on your overall financial situation.
The brief's key findings are: An unconventional strategy allows individuals to use early Social Security benefits like a “free loan,” paying back the principal while keeping the interest. If this strategy were widely adopted, it would cost Social Security $6 billion to $11 billion per year today and more in the future.
The reverse mortgage, officially called the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage or HECM, is backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Reverse mortgages allow seniors to access the equity in their home via monthly payments made to the retiree.
As of December 2023, the average check is $1,767.03, according to the Social Security Administration – but that amount can differ drastically depending on the type of recipient.
The median household income for Americans aged 65 and over was $50,290 in 2022, according to the most recent Census Bureau data. That breaks down to an average of $4,190.83 a month. In 2024, the social security benefit will increase by 3.2% — matching the rate of inflation in October.
The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940 according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. Taken on their own, those numbers aren't incredibly helpful. There are a variety of decent retirement savings benchmarks out there, but how much money other people have isn't one of them.