Spending Needs and Savings Longevity:
For a $3 million retirement fund, anticipate a monthly income of $6,250 over 40 years, barring investment growth or loss. Factors such as lifestyle choices, inflation, and healthcare costs will influence how long your savings last.
If you're dreaming of $3 million or more, though, you're officially aiming for a financial VIP club that represents less than 1% of retirees.
Most people will be perfectly capable of supporting a $5,000 monthly retirement budget on $3 million, as long as it's adequately liquid and properly diversified.
A high-net-worth individual (HNWI) is a person with typically at least $1 million in liquid financial assets. An ultra-high-net-worth individual has a net worth of more than $30 million.
Interestingly, the 90th percentile is pretty flat, around $2.5M to $3M, from one's early 50s to one's 80s. The 95th is slightly less flat, with a peak slightly under $7M in one's late 60s; while the 99th percentile rises sharply with age until peaking over $22M in one's late 60s, from which point it mostly drops.
You can probably retire in financial comfort at age 45 if you have $3 million in savings. Although it's much younger than most people retire, that much money can likely generate adequate income for as long as you live.
A $3 million portfolio will likely be enough to allow a retired couple to spend reasonably and invest with moderate caution without any worries of running out of money. However, if expenses rise too high, it's entirely possible to drain a $3 million portfolio in well under 30 years.
According to Wealth and Society, while there aren't any legal definitions of wealth, there are some widely accepted ranges: High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) have an investable net worth of $1 million to $5 million. Very High Net Worth Individuals (VHNWI) have an investable net worth of $5 million to $30 million.
5. How many multi-millionaires are in the US? About 8,046,080 US households have a net worth of $2 million or more, covering about 6.25% of American households. 5,671,005 US households have a net worth of $3 million or more, covering about 4.41% of all US households.
What are the average and median retirement savings? The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940, according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. The median retirement savings for all families is $87,000.
There are estimated to be a little over 8 million households in the US with a net worth of $3 million or more.
Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. It's the total value of all your assets—including your house, cars, investments and cash—minus your liabilities (things like credit card debt, student loans, and what you still owe on your mortgage).
So if you've managed to save three times this amount, you're in an enviable position in the eyes of most Americans. If we look at $3 million in a vacuum and ignore for now how it could grow via interest and investment, we can see that $3 million across 40 years equates to a generous $6,250 per month.
According to estimates based on the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, a mere 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts. The number of those with $2 million or more is even smaller, falling somewhere between this 3.2% and the 0.1% who have $5 million or more saved.
Still, financial experts often recommend having at least eight times your annual salary saved by this age to maintain your current lifestyle. If earning a current salary of $100,000 a year, you should aim for at least $800,000 to $1 million in retirement savings by 60.
Yahoo Finance
In 2024, Americans stated that the average net worth they consider “wealthy” is $2.5 million.
California is a popular retirement destination, but it comes with some steep costs. Those who want to live the upper middle class lifestyle there will need at least $125,000 a year in retirement — possibly more.
To some people, $3 million will sound like a lot. You probably think $3 million is enough to retire if you're among that crowd. But retiring with $3 million at 65 can last depending on your longevity, lifestyle and other factors. Let's break down what you need to consider when determining how much you can afford.
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.
If you're currently living a frugal lifestyle and don't have any plans to change that after you leave the workforce, $3 million is likely more than enough. But if you hope to keep your big house and nice cars and travel widely, $3 million might not be enough. You also need to consider taxes.
How much does a $3 million annuity pay? As of January 2025, with a $3,000,000 annuity, you'll get an immediate payment of $18,000 per month starting at age 60, $19,825 per month at age 65, or $21,333 per month at age 70.
Across 29 years, $4 million could equate to a generous $11,494 a month. If you plan to retire early, you'll have less to work with but still have plenty of room to spend as you wish while your considerable fortune grows. Interest alone will provide a significant income at this level of wealth.