If you have multiple income streams, a detailed spending plan and keep extra expenses to a minimum, you can retire at 55 on $2 million. However, because each retiree's circumstances are unique, it's essential to define your income and expenses, then run the numbers to ensure retiring at 55 is realistic.
Is $2 Million Enough to Retire at 55? A $2 million nest egg can provide $80,000 of annual income when the principal gives a return of 4%. This estimate is on the conservative side, making $80,000 a solid benchmark for retirement income with this sum of money.
By those numbers, the median household should plan for around $56,800 per year in replacement income ($71,000 x 0.8). With a $2 million retirement account, you can coast on this for about 35 years ($2 million / $56,800).
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.
How much super you'll need in retirement depends on the lifestyle you want. According to the government's MoneySmart website, if you own your home, the rule of thumb is that you'll need two-thirds (67%) of your current income each year to maintain the same standard of living.
Retirement Savings When You're in Your 50s & Beyond
Suggested savings: The general guidelines recommend having eight times your annual salary saved by 60. The median income for a 55-year-old is about $63,000, which means having $506,600 saved for retirement. The average savings for those 55-65 is $256,244.
Living off interest of 2 million dollars is doable, but you'll need a reliable, high-earning investment vehicle. A fixed annuity can give you even more interest than a CD, at 3 percent or more, offering more confidence in how long will 2 million last in retirement.
In fact, a recent survey found that investors believe they'll need at least $3 million to retire comfortably. But retiring with $1 million is still possible, even as early as age 55, if you're smart about it. It will require some careful planning since you'll have to wait 10 years for Medicare, but it can be done.
Yes, you can retire at 55 with three million dollars. At age 55, an annuity will provide a guaranteed income of $168,750 annually, starting immediately for the rest of the insured's lifetime. The income will stay the same and never decrease.
You can retire at 50 if you have saved one million dollars. You will get a guaranteed income of $53,750 each year, starting immediately for the rest of your life.
Being rich currently means having a net worth of about $2.2 million. However, this number fluctuates over time, and you can measure wealth according to your financial priorities. As a result, healthy financial habits, like spending less than you make, are critical to becoming wealthy, no matter your definition.
If you have $1.5 million saved up and want to retire at 55, this may be enough for you. The reality is that it all depends on your withdrawal rate — the amount of money you consistently take out of your accounts to support yourself — and how long you live. A reasonable withdrawal rate, for instance, is 4%.
Yes, $2 million should be enough to retire. Annuities provide an income option to pay a guaranteed monthly amount for two lives. Once the first spouse dies, the annuity will continue to pay the same or a reduced amount for the remaining surviving spouse's lifetime.
The good news: As long as you plan carefully, $3 million should be a comfortable amount to retire on at 55. If you're ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
The Bottom Line
If you have $3 million saved, it's likely that you'll be able to retire comfortably. You'll need to factor in your living expenses, inflation and the expected rate of return on your investments.
A $2 million retirement account invested entirely in an S&P 500 index fund would return an average of $200,000 per year. That's enough for most households to live on without even dipping into the principal, but in some years that account would take significant losses.
This obviously depends on what annual income you want to fund but if you want to be able to afford a comfortable retirement—which is an income of just over $48,000 a year for a single according to the ASFA Retirement Standard—then you need a balance of at least $500,000.
Retiring 15 years before the typical retirement age requires thorough planning. To retire at 50 with $1.5 million, your savings must produce sufficient income to cover your living expenses for several decades. As a result, it's essential to consider your lifestyle, expenses and investment income.
Dated ways of describing someone worth n millions are "n-fold millionaire" and "millionaire n times over". Still commonly used is multimillionaire, which refers to individuals with net assets of 2 million or more of a currency.
For many people, $2 million in retirement savings is plenty. Some can achieve a peaceful retirement with as little as $600,000. However, some people may need $5 million or more to live their preferred post-retirement lifestyle.
Can You Retire at 50 With $2 Million? Retiring at 50 with $2 million requires meticulous planning and multiple income streams. Since withdrawals from retirement accounts before age 59.5 incur a 10% penalty, diversification insurance is essential.
What do we consider a “comfortable” retirement? A helpful cost of living benchmark prepared quarterly by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), shows an average single person needs approximately $595,000 in superannuation before retiring, while a couple requires around $690,000.
While 7 figures in superannuation may sound great, the reality is most people heading into retirement won't have anywhere near that amount. According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Limited (ASFA), Australians aged between 60-64 have a median balance of $178,808 for men, and $137,051 for women1.