Why does the rule of 70 work?

Asked by: Mrs. Leanne Ritchie DDS  |  Last update: February 11, 2026
Score: 5/5 (53 votes)

The rule of 70 can help give you a rough idea of how long it might take for your investment to double in value. Let's say you've got a portfolio that you expect could potentially return 6% annually. The rule of 70 tells us that your investment would hypothetically double in about 11.7 years (70 / 6 = 11.7).

What is the rule of 70 why does it work?

The rule of 70 is used to determine the number of years it takes for a variable to double by dividing the number 70 by the variable's growth rate. The rule of 70 is generally used to determine how long it would take for an investment to double given the annual rate of return.

How accurate is the rule of 70?

At lower growth rates (up to 4%), the estimated doubling times using the Rule of 70 are very close to the actual doubling times, with the variation being less than 1%. At a 2% growth rate, both the actual and estimated doubling times are 35 years, resulting in a 0% variation.

How to prove the rule of 70?

The rule of 70 calculates the years it takes for an investment to double in value. It is calculated by dividing the number 70 by the investment's growth rate. The calculation is commonly used to compare investments with different annual interest rates.

How does the rule of 70 work for retirement?

The 70% rule for retirement savings can help you estimate the amount of income you may need in retirement. It says you'll need 70% of your pre-retirement, post-tax income to retire comfortably.

What Is the Rule of 70?

21 related questions found

How does the 70 rule work?

Basically, the rule says real estate investors should pay no more than 70% of a property's after-repair value (ARV) minus the cost of the repairs necessary to renovate the home. The ARV of a property is the amount a home could sell for after flippers renovate it.

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.

What is the 70% rule for retirement?

Financial experts historically suggested, as a rule of thumb, that you needed to generate 70 - 80% of your pre-retirement income for a comfortable retirement.

What is the rule of 70 for severance?

The “Rule of 70” is a guideline used to determine the amount of severance pay an employee should receive. It considers the employee's age and years of service, with the total equaling 70. For example, an employee aged 50 with 20 years of service would qualify under this rule.

What is the best use of the rule of 70 among those listed below?

The rule of 70 is a way of estimating the time it takes to double a number based on its growth rate. The rule of 70 can be effective in determining how many years it will take for an investment to double; it can also be used to make estimates about economic growth, usually measured by gross domestic product (GDP).

What is the golden rule of 70?

The Rule of 70 estimates the time to double GDP by dividing 70 by the growth rate. For example, at a 2% growth rate, it takes approximately 35 years to double, while at 6%, it takes about 11.67 years, highlighting the significant impact of small growth rate changes on economic outcomes.

Is the rule of 70 or 72 more accurate?

The number 72 is a better approximation for annual interest compounding at typical rates. For continuous compounding ln (2), which is about 69.3%, will give accurate results for any rate. Daily compounding is close enough to continuous compounding for most purposes, so 69.3 or 70 should be used.

How do you calculate a 70% rule?

What is the 70% Rule?
  1. A properties ARV is $200,000 and it needs an estimated $30,000 in repairs.
  2. The 70% rule states on this occasion, that an investor should pay $110,000.
  3. ($200,000 x 70%) – $30,000 = $110,000.

What does the rule of 70 say?

What's the “rule of 70?” The rule of 70 is an easy method of estimating how quickly a variable will double if you know its annual growth rate. If a variable is growing at a rate of x% per period, you simply take 70 and divide it by x. The rule of 70 is useful for all sorts of applications.

What does the rule of 70 show us?

The rule of 70 is a quick way to calculate how many years it could take for a quantity to possibly double, given a specific growth rate. By dividing 70 by the annual growth rate, you can get a rough estimate of the doubling time.

Why do companies lay off older workers?

Companies often need to lay off employees for economic reasons, whether business is down or the company is restructuring. Some companies look at older employees first since they're more likely to have higher salaries and be closer to retirement. Eliminating the highest salaries when downsizing makes economic sense.

What is a typical severance package for a VP?

The general practice is to try to get four weeks of severance pay for each year worked. Middle managers and executives usually receive a higher amount. Some executives, for example, may receive pay for more than a year. A lump-sum severance payment that is considerable could push you into a higher tax bracket.

What is the rule of 70 for termination?

Extension of Benefits Under Rule of 70

To be eligible to retire, you must be at least age 55 with 10 years of service or age 65. Years of service for the “Rule of 70” eligibility purposes, means total years of employment from date of hire to date of termination.

Is $500,000 enough to retire at 70?

Retiring with $500,000 is possible, but you have to be pragmatic about your lifestyle and spending. Create a comprehensive savings and investment strategy, ideally with the help of a trusted financial advisor.

What is the golden rule for retirement?

Rule of thumb: "Save 10% to 15% of your income for retirement." The detail most people miss here is that a 10% to 15% savings rate—which includes any match from your employer—makes sense only if you start saving in your mid-20s or early 30s.

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.

Can you live off $3,000 a month in retirement?

You can retire comfortably on $3,000 a month in retirement income by choosing to retire in a place with a cost of living that matches your financial resources. Housing cost is the key factor since it's both the largest component of retiree budgets and the household cost that varies most according to geography.

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.

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.