As a general rule, most people will need 70% of their take home pay to maintain their lifestyle in retirement. And since we're living longer, which is great, your super may need to last for 30 years or more after you retire.
According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia's Retirement Standard, to have a 'comfortable' retirement, single people will need $595,000 in retirement savings, and couples will need $690,000.
ASFA estimates people who want a comfortable retirement need $690,000 for a couple, and $595,000 for a single person when they leave work, assuming they also receive a partial age pension from the federal government. For people who are happy to have a modest lifestyle, this figure is $100,000.
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.
Yes, $500k Might Be Enough
The question is how that will work out for you. With an income source like Social Security, relatively low spending, and a bit of good luck, this is feasible. And when you have two people in your household receiving Social Security or pension income, it's even easier.
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.
Forecast With the 4% Rule. The 4% rule is often used as a guideline to help you cover living expenses and avoid running out of money in retirement. If you have $2 million and withdraw 4% every year, you would have $80,000 annually to support your lifestyle.
If you have substantial income from sources like a pension and Social Security, an $800,000 portfolio could last for many years. That's especially true if your expenses are low and you don't have significant health care expenses.
Retiring at 65 seems like a typical target, but it takes careful planning and a sufficient nest egg to pull off. If you accrue $2 million during your career, you can pay yourself $80,000 annually without touching your principal, which translates to a healthy monthly budget.
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.
On the higher end, those organisations recommend individuals to save $545,000 to $745,000 in super by ages 65 to 67, for a comfortable or high-spending retirement. The only scenario where $1 million is set as the savings goal is for a high-spending couple in retirement.
If you still have a mortgage or pay high property taxes, downsizing or moving to a less expensive area may be worthwhile if those expenses are straining your budget. Yes, retiring at 70 with $2 million in the bank is possible. It will require diligent planning and a good hard look at your expenses in retirement.
Assuming you will need $80,000 annually to cover your basic living expenses, your $2 million would last for 25 years without inflation. However, if inflation averaged 3% annually, your $2 million would only last for 20 years.
You expect to withdraw 4% each year, starting with a $24,000 withdrawal in Year One. Your money earns a 5% annual rate of return while inflation stays at 2.9%. Based on those numbers, $600,000 would be enough to last you 30 years in retirement. In fact, by age 92 you'd still have over $116,000 in savings.
Using the default assumptions built into the Moneysmart Retirement Calculator – and assuming you are single, will retire at age 65, want the funds to last until age 90, and require an annual income of $80,000 (indexed up each year for inflation) – then you need approximately $1,550,000 by retirement to live on an ...
How long will $800,000 last in retirement? Your money is projected to last approximately 30 years with monthly withdrawals totaling $2,024,574. How long will $1,500,000 last in retirement? Your money is projected to stretch beyond 30 years and you'll be able to make monthly withdrawals beyond $4,000,000.
While the cost of living varies from place to place, a nest egg this size would likely give more than enough money for decades of comfortable living. Even if you live another 50 years, $5 million in savings would allow you to live on $100,000 per year.
With $5 million, based on a median household, you can likely afford to retire at age 60. The only question is how much you plan on spending or what you would like your lifestyle to look like post-retirement.
How much does a $400,000 annuity pay per month? Based on our data analysis, we found out that purchasing a $400,000 annuity with a lifetime income rider can yield monthly payments ranging from $2,271 to $5,169 for the rest of your life.
The amount that you need to retire at age 60 with no pension is $1,075,000 for a $50,000 per year retirement income until age 95, $1,300,000 for a $60,000 per year retirement income and $1500,000 for a $70,000 per year retirement income.
Of course, there are many caveats, including whether Social Security payments will be consistent. For now, though, $1.5 million should allow you to retire comfortably. Here are two things to consider when calculating your spending: Lifestyle.
Figuring Out How Much Is Really Enough for Retirement. With careful planning and a solid investing plan, it is absolutely possible to retire with dignity on $1 million today (no matter what some blogger writing from their mother's basement might try to tell you)!
According to the Australian Superannuation Fund Association's (ASFA's) Retirement Standard1, to enjoy a comfortable retirement, singles need $595,000 in savings at retirement (aged 67) to generate a yearly income of $50,004. Similarly, couples need $690,000 at retirement to generate $70,482 a year.
Retiring On $2 Million
There are a lot of variables involved, but a $2 million nest egg should suffice for most couples if they keep an eye on spending and understand how their investments can affect the outcome.