What is the best 401k mix for a 60 year old?

Asked by: Angeline Kozey  |  Last update: August 19, 2025
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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).

What is a good portfolio mix for a 60 year old?

A good portfolio for a 60-year-old should include low-risk asset classes. The portfolio should be divided into two parts: (1) Sensible, safe investments (bonds, CDs, money market); and (2) riskier investments (stock, real estate, small business, etc.).

What is a good 401k balance at age 60?

By age 50, that goal is three-and-a-half to six times your salary. By age 60, your retirement savings goal may be six to 11-times your salary.

What is the best retirement plan for a 60 year old?

Some good investments for retirement are defined contribution plans, such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs, cash-value life insurance plans, and guaranteed income annuities.

What should I do with my 401k at age 60?

After you retire, the basic choices you'll have with your 401(k) are to keep the money in the plan, transfer your 401(k) money to another qualified retirement plan (such as an IRA) or withdraw all or a portion of your 401(k) balance.

How Much Risk Should a 60-Year Old Take When Investing?

38 related questions found

Is 401k tax-free after 60?

No, you cannot withdraw just a portion of your 401(k) after age 59 without paying taxes. Withdrawals after age 59 ½ are normally subject to income tax.

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.

How aggressive should my 401k be at 60?

From the results, the average 60 year old should have between $800,000 – $5,000,000 saved up in their 401k, depending on company match and investment performance. Just one or two percentage points in performance difference can really add up to a lot over a 30+ year savings period.

Where is the safest place to put a 401k after retirement?

Bond funds, money market funds, index funds, stable value funds, and target-date funds are lower-risk options for your 401(k).

What is a good portfolio mix?

Many financial advisors recommend a 60/40 asset allocation between stocks and fixed income to take advantage of growth while keeping up your defenses. Here's how 60/40 is supposed to work: In a good year on Wall Street, the 60% of your portfolio in stocks provides strong growth.

What is the max 401k for 60 year old?

An important note: Beginning in 2025, those between ages 60 and 63 will be eligible to contribute up to $11,250 as a catch-up contribution. This means those 50 to 59 or 64 or older will be able to contribute up to $31,000 in 2025 and those 60 to 63 will be able to contribute up to $34,750 in 2025.

At what age should you have $100,000 in a 401k?

Kevin O'Leary: By Age 33, You Should Have $100K in Savings — How To Get Started. If you're just starting out in your career, $100,000 might seem like a lot of money. After all, the median salary of a 20- to 24-year-old, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, is just $37,024.

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 is the ideal mutual fund portfolio for a 60 year old?

"For senior citizens in India, a combination of SCSS, PMVVY, POMIS, FDs, and carefully selected mutual funds can form a robust investment strategy. This strategy not only ensures a regular income stream to meet daily expenses but also offers potential tax savings.

What is the safest investment with the highest return?

Here are some ways investors can take less risk but still generate a decent return:
  • High-yield savings accounts.
  • Money market funds.
  • Certificates of deposit (CDs).
  • Corporate bonds.
  • Treasurys.
  • Dividend stocks.
  • Preferred shares.

Is Vanguard good for retirement?

Vanguard funds are a great choice for retirement investing thanks to their low cost structure and high quality.

What is the best retirement portfolio for a 60 year old?

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 do I protect my 401K from a market crash?

A financial advisor can help you make moves to protect your retirement savings from market volatility.
  1. Protecting Your 401(k) From a Stock Market Crash.
  2. Don't Panic and Withdraw Your Money Too Early.
  3. Diversify Your Portfolio.
  4. Rebalance Your Portfolio.
  5. Keep Some Cash on Hand.

What do most people do with their 401K when they retire?

In fact, Mitchell notes that just over half (54%) of retirees currently leave their retirement accounts with their former employers, with the remainder moving their money to IRAs, according to a 2021 survey. Participants in both IRAs and 401(k) plans must pay investment management, administrative, and advisory fees.

What is the ideal portfolio mix by age?

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.

At what age should you get out of the stock market?

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. If you're 65, you could have two decades or more of living ahead of you and you'll want that potential boost.

How much do I need in a 401k to get $2 000 a month?

According to the $1,000 per month rule, retirees can receive $1,000 per month if they withdraw 5% annually for every $240,000 they have set aside. For example, if you aim to take out $2,000 per month, you'll need to set aside $480,000.

What is a good monthly retirement income?

The ideal monthly retirement income for a couple differs for everyone. It depends on your personal preferences, past accomplishments, and retirement plans. Some valuable perspective can be found in the 2022 US Census Bureau's median income for couples 65 and over: $76,490 annually or about $6,374 monthly.

How much money do I need to invest to make $3,000 a month?

$3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year. $36,000 / 6% dividend yield = $600,000. On the other hand, if you're more risk-averse and prefer a portfolio yielding 2%, you'd need to invest $1.8 million to reach the $3,000 per month target: $3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year.