How much cash does the average American retire with?
Your savings goals will depend on your income, desired retirement lifestyle, life expectancy, and more. Unfortunately, Americans don't save enough for retirement. The median retirement savings for all families is $87,000, according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances conducted by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Average Retirement Savings by Age
The average retirement savings shortfall is about $48,000 per individual. As we stated earlier, research by the Federal Reserve found that the median retirement account balance in the U.S. – looking only at those who have retirement accounts – was just $87,000 in 2023.
In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings. The majority of retirees, however, have far less saved. If you're looking to be in the minority but aren't sure how to get started on that savings goal, consider working with a financial advisor.
How much do people save for retirement? In 2022, about 46% of households reported any savings in retirement accounts. Twenty-six percent had saved more than $100,000, and 9% had more than $500,000. These percentages were only somewhat higher for older people.
The rule of thumb is that to you'll need about 80 percent of your pre-retirement income to maintain your lifestyle in retirement, although that rule requires a pretty flexible thumb.
| Type of beneficiary | Percent of total payouts | Average monthly benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Source: Social Security Administration, December 2023 | ||
| All recipients | 100% | $1,767.03 |
| Retirement benefits | 78.6% | $1,856.38 |
| Retired workers | 74.8% | $1,905.31 |
The above chart shows that U.S. residents 35 and under have an average of $30,170 in retirement savings; those 35 to 44 have an average $131,950; those 45 to 54 have an average $254,720; those 55 to 64 have an average $408,420; those 65 to 74 have an average $426,070; and those over 70 have an average $357,920.
According to Schwab's 2023 Modern Wealth Survey, Americans perceive an average net worth of $2.2 million as wealthy. Knight Frank's research indicates that a net worth of $4.4 million is required to be in the top 1% in America, a figure much higher than in countries like Japan, the U.K. and Australia.
Around the U.S., a $1 million nest egg can cover an average of 18.9 years worth of living expenses, GoBankingRates found. But where you retire can have a profound impact on how far your money goes, ranging from as a little as 10 years in Hawaii to more than than 20 years in more than a dozen states.
Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.
What is the average 401k balance for a 65 year old?
The average balance for those 65 and older is $232,710; the median falls to $70,620.
Nearly 2 in 5 Retirees Have No Retirement Savings
The survey found that about 37% of retirees say they have no retirement savings, up from 30% in 2022, and only about 12% have at least the recommended $555,000 in savings.
Retiring with little to no money saved is not impossible, but it can present some challenges to your financial plan. Depending on where you're starting from, you may need to delay Social Security benefits, work longer, or drastically reduce expenses to retire with no money saved.
Based on the 80% principle, you can expect to need about $96,000 in annual income after you retire, which is $8,000 per month.
What Is the Average Retirement Income? The average monthly retirement income adjusted for inflation in 2023 is $4,381.25, according to a 2022 U.S. Census Bureau report. The average annual income for adults 65 and older in 2023 is $75,254 – or $83,085 when adjusted for inflation.
A plurality of older Americans, 40.2 percent, only receive income from Social Security in retirement. Roughly equal numbers of older Americans receive income from defined benefit pensions as from defined contribution plans.
Bottom Line. Yes, Social Security is taxed federally after the age of 70. If you get a Social Security check, it will always be part of your taxable income, regardless of your age. There is some variation at the state level, though, so make sure to check the laws for the state where you live.
As of 2022, the median household income in the U.S. was $74,580, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Assuming a middle-class retiree earned this salary and retired at age 65 — specifically 65 and 11 months — their Social Security benefit would be $1,867 per month.
Nearly one in three (30 percent) people in 2023 had some emergency savings, but not enough to cover three months of expenses. This is up from 27 percent of people in 2022. Note: Not all percentages total 100 due to rounding. Also, nearly one in four (22 percent) U.S. adults said they have no emergency savings.
How much does the average 70-year-old have in savings? We were curious, too, so we asked. Our 2023 Planning & Progress study found that the average amount of retirement savings for 70-year-olds in the U.S. is $113,900.
What is considered well off?
Someone who has $1 million in liquid assets, for instance, is usually considered to be a high net worth (HNW) individual. You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth.
At its most basic, net worth is everything you own minus everything you owe. To calculate your net worth, tally the value of all or your assets, including bank accounts, investments, and perhaps the value of your home or vacation home.
1,821,745 Households in the United States Have Investment Portfolios Worth $3,000,000 or More.
The more time you have to save and invest, the more opportunity your money has to grow. Waiting to start saving for retirement can mean having to play catch-up later. If you're approaching the last five years before you retire, a late start can put you at a serious disadvantage.
With $800k initially saved, you could withdraw $40k-60k annually and still have your portfolio last between 19-28 years. The higher your spending amount, the faster your savings get depleted. Assessing your specific retirement costs and life expectancy is key to determining withdrawal rate.
