What is the happiest age to retire?

Asked by: Jamar Wuckert  |  Last update: August 12, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (23 votes)

On average, 63 is the ideal age for retirement according to both retirees and pre-retirees. While current retirees are hitting close to that mark with an average actual retirement age of 62, there are signs that future retirees could have more difficulty retiring at their ideal age.

What is the smartest age to retire?

Retiring in your mid-60s still makes sense for many people. At this point, you are old enough to have hopefully amassed sizable savings, but you are still young enough to enjoy active pursuits such as travel.

What age should you retire to enjoy life?

The traditional retiree feels a boost in happiness starting around age 57, or eight years earlier than age 65. Therefore, the 45-year-old retiree may start feeling a rebound in happiness perhaps starting as early as age 37.

At what age does it most benefit you to retire?

67-70 – During this age range, your Social Security benefit, if you haven't already taken it, will increase by 8% for each year you delay taking it until you turn 70. So, if your benefit will be, say, $2,500/month if you start at your full retirement age, it would be more than $3,300/month if you can wait.

What is the healthiest retirement age?

You're Likely to Live Longer If You Retire After 65.

Your aging attitude and tips for a happier retirement life

20 related questions found

Do people live longer if they retire early?

Those retiring at age 65 or greater have an 11-percentage-point greater probability of surviving to age 80 than those retiring at exactly age 62.

What is the best income to retire?

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.

What is the prime age to retire?

Age 66 – Full Social Security retirement age begins for most Baby Boomers. Age 67 – Full retirement age for Social Security benefits if born in 1960 or later. Age 70 – To increase monthly benefits delay claiming Social Security payments until 70. Age 72 – Minimum distributions from 401(k) plans and IRAs are required.

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.

Are people happier if they retire early?

While some research suggests that early retirement can indeed boost happiness levels, other studies have found that the timing of retirement may not be the sole determinant of an individual's overall satisfaction and contentment.

What is the most popular retirement age?

Right now, the average age for men to retire is 65 while the average age for women to retire is 63. While many people say they will work for as long as they can, others retire earlier than expected.

What is the optimum age to retire?

Most people retire when they're about 65 years old. But there's a big trend towards working later. The number of people working into their 70s has risen by more than 60% in the last decade.

What is the #1 reason to take Social Security at 62?

Those facing financial emergencies, such as a layoff or debt, may benefit from accessing Social Security early. If you retire early and need extra income, Social Security benefits can provide supplemental funds to support your new lifestyle, hobbies or retirement activities.

What is the 5 year rule for Social Security?

The Social Security 5-year rule refers specifically to disability benefits. It requires that you must have worked five out of the last ten years immediately before your disability onset to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

What is a reasonable monthly retirement income?

A good monthly retirement income is typically 80% of pre-retirement income; advisors often suggest a range between 70% and a more conservative 90%. Median income for households headed by someone over 65 was $50,290, or $4,191 per month, in 2022 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Census Bureau.

How long will $500,000 last year in retirement?

California. $500,000 will last: Years, Months, Days: 6 years, 2 months, 9 days. Annual expenditure: $80,771.75.

What is the best month to retire?

While those scenarios may lead to a person pushing retirement to later in the year, on the flip side, many choose to retire in January if they will be withdrawing money out of retirement accounts. This is especially true if this retirement revenue stream will be considered taxable income.

What is the average Social Security check at 62?

If people born after 1960 claim their benefits the month they turn 62, they'll get only 70% of what they would have received had they waited until the full retirement age of 67. The average monthly payment of $1,784 drops by 30% during the first month of eligibility to $1,247.40.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

What is the 50 30 20 rule?

Those will become part of your budget. 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.

What is considered wealthy in retirement?

Rich retirees: In the 90th percentile, with net worth starting at $1.9 million, this group has much more financial freedom and is able to afford luxuries and legacy planning.