According to a new Bank of America survey, 16 percent of millennials — which BoA defined as those between age 23 and 37 — now have $100,000 or more in savings. That's pretty good, considering that by age 30, you should aim to have the equivalent of your annual salary saved.
Although “Shark Tank” star Kevin O'Leary says he doesn't like to “peg a number” to certain financial milestones, he does believe there is a point in one's life where they should have at least six figures saved. “By the time you hit 33 years old, you should have $100,000 saved somewhere. Make that your goal.
But all the same, 100k in retirement can last up to 30 years if you stick to the general 4% thumb rule of financial planning during retirement. This rule suggests that retirees 65 and older should withdraw at most 4% of their savings during the first year of retirement.
Savings by age 30: the equivalent of your annual salary saved; if you earn $55,000 per year, by your 30th birthday you should have $55,000 saved. Savings by age 40: three times your income.
Saving Your First Million
7.84 years… to earn just the first $100K. That means you earned 4 times as much ($400K instead of $100K) in less time toward the end. Again, this is why Charlie Munger says the first $100K is the hardest and why you really need to do whatever it takes to get to that first $100K.
If you're earning a 10% average annual return and investing $400 per month, you'd be able to go from $100,000 to $1 million in savings in just over 20 years. Again, if your actual average returns are higher or lower than 10% per year, that will affect your timeline.
20% of Your Annual Income
Alice Rowen Hall, director of Rowen Homes, suggests that “individuals should aim to save at least 20% of their annual income by age 25.” For example, if someone is earning $60,000 per year, they should aim to have $12,000 saved by the age of 25.
Average Savings by Age 25
The Federal Reserve doesn't provide a specific metric for savers in their 20s. Instead, it compiles savings information for Americans under 35. The Fed's most recent numbers show the average savings for the age group that includes 25-year-olds is $11,250. The median savings is $3,240.
A general rule of thumb is to have one times your annual income saved by age 30, three times by 40, and so on.
Yes, for some people, $2 million should be more than enough to retire. For others, $2 million may not even scratch the surface. The answer depends on your personal situation and there are lot of challenges you'll face. As of 2023, it seems the number of obstacles to a successful retirement continues to grow.
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.
And given that the average American spends $66,921 per year (as of 2021), $10 million is more than enough to retire at 30 in most cases. However, that may not be true if you have an expensive lifestyle when you retire. Factors like inflation, healthcare costs and a volatile stock market can derail your retirement.
If you can afford to put away $1,400 per month, you could potentially save your first $100k in just 5 years. If that's too much, aim for even half that (or whatever you can). Thanks to compound interest, just $700 per month could become $100k in 9 years.
The first $100,000 is the hardest.
Building wealth is typically a slow process, especially when you're just getting started. In fact, for most people, saving their first $100,000 is one of the most difficult milestones to achieve.
If you retire with $500k in assets, the 4% rule says that you should be able to withdraw $20,000 per year for a 30-year (or longer) retirement. So, if you retire at 60, the money should ideally last through age 90.
Your 30s: Your First Net Worth Goal
By this age, it's ideal to have saved approximately half your annual salary in your retirement account. For example, if you spent your twenties making $60,000 annually, you'll want to have about $30,000 saved by the time you hit 30.
Many experts agree that most young adults in their 20s should allocate 10% of their income to savings. One of the worst pitfalls for young adults is to push off saving money until they're older.
Younger people are no exception. Of “young millennials” — which GOBankingRates defines as those between 18 and 24 years old — 67 percent have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts and 46 percent have $0.
Making a million dollars is not easy, but it's also not impossible. It requires hard work, dedication, and a strategic approach. Start by setting clear goals, developing a plan, building multiple income streams, investing wisely, and focusing on saving money. Then, remember to be patient and stay focused on your goals.
Over the past decade, this index has delivered a 7% yearly return. At that pace, it would take 68 years to turn $10,000 into $1 million. That's unrealistically long. Simply by adding $2,500 in additional investments every year, you can reach this goal within 45 years.
To go from $500,000 in assets to $1 million requires a 100% return—a level of performance very hard to achieve in less than six years. To go from $1 million to $2 million likewise requires 100% growth, but the next million after that requires only 50% growth (and then 33% and so on).