Can you retire on $900k [Updated May 2024] (2024)

However, if you model different spending scenarios, check the table below. It shows how $900k, assuming a 6% average annual return before taxes and 22% tax rate, would last over 25 years under different annual spending:

Initial savingsAnnual SpendingEnding Balance After 25 YearsEnough?Required Initial Savings
$50,000 $845,246 Yes $850,770
$60,000 $556,735 Yes $1,026,154
$900,000 $70,000 $268,224 Yes $1,201,539
$80,000 −$20,288 No $1,376,923
$90,000 −$308,799 No $1,552,308

It's important to note that individual financial circ*mstances can vary significantly, finding a financial advisor is essential to develop a secure and personalized retirement plan.

How long will $900k last in retirement?

$900k can last you for over 25 years in retirement if your annual spending remains around $50,000, following the 4% rule.

However, it will depend on your age at retirement and spending needs as a retiree.

Assuming a 6% average annual return before taxes and 22% tax rate, the table below shows how long $900k could last under different yearly spending:

Spending Per YearYears It Will LastTotal InterestTotal WithdrawalTotal Taxes
$50,000 28 $1,260,000 $1,400,000 $308,000
$60,000 23 $1,035,000 $1,380,000 $303,600
$70,000 19 $855,000 $1,330,000 $292,600
$80,000 17 $765,000 $1,360,000 $299,200
$90,000 15 $675,000 $1,350,000 $297,000

Retirement plans, annuities and Social Security benefits should all be considered alongside the figure you have sitting in savings, and you should also bear in mind that expenses as a retiree tend to be low. Especially if any children are now financially solvent adults and large loans, such as your mortgage, have been paid off.

Can I retire on $900k plus Social Security?

With nearly $1 million saved for retirement, Social Security payments can provide a nice income bonus on top. But how much they’ll contribute depends on when you claim and your lifetime earnings.

The average monthly Social Security benefit is currently about $1,600. For an individual with average career earnings, this equates to $19,200 per year in retirement. Married couples would qualify for $32,000+ annually.

These benefits are increased by inflation and continue for life. So combined with prudent use of your $900k next egg, they provide an extra buffer. Your savings should generate around $36,000 yearly, allowing you to withdraw less early on while Social Security kicks in.

One consideration is taxation on your benefits, which varies based on income thresholds. With the right planning though, $900k in the bank and Social Security in your back pocket make for a financially-comfortable retirement.

What are the income taxes applicable to retirees with $900k?

When financially planning your retirement with $900,000 in savings, you must evaluate how taxes could reduce your accessible income. Your liability mainly depends on:

  • Your filing status (single filer, head of household, married filing jointly, etc.)

  • Where you live as states have varying tax rules

  • Where your retirement income is from (different tax rules per source)

  • Your total annual income

If you have a traditional pre-tax IRA, the withdrawals are taxable, while Roth IRAs allow tax-free withdrawals.

Here’s an example: You retire at 65 and plan for your $900k savings to last 20 years. Withdrawing $900,000 over 20 years means $45,000 in annual income, or $3,750 per month. This income level places you in the 24% federal income tax bracket for an individual, withdrawing from a traditional IRA or 401(k).

Can you retire at 50 with $900k?

Retiring 20+ years before conventional retirement age is certainly ambitious, but could be feasible with the right preparation and discipline. With $900,000 banked by 50, here are the key considerations:

  • What are your expected fixed annual expenses in early retirement (housing, healthcare, transportation, etc.)? Develop a detailed budget as these costs can add up substantially.

  • How much discretionary spending do you hope to cover for pursuits like travel and hobbies? Account for this in your income planning.

  • Can you maintain an investment portfolio optimized for an ultra early, potentially 40+ year retirement horizon to reduce sequence of returns risk?

  • Might you pursue side income via part-time work, monetizing a passion project, or other means? Extra income can give more flexibility.

While a $900k nest egg seems sizeable, spreading it over potentially 40+ years with inflation raises the degree of difficulty. Strict budgeting around necessities and luxuries and planning for supplementary income are imperative to increase the odds of sustaining this ultra early retirement goal.

Speaking with a financial advisor can provide an informed second opinion on the feasibility of achieving this dream, help stress test your income assumptions, and increase your chances of turning this vision into reality.

Try our retirement calculator

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Three routes to increased savings

You may now want to figure out how to increase your savings, growing that $900,000 to $1 million or more to give yourself some additional breathing room. Some extra disposable income as a retiree. Our best recommendations are as follows:

  1. Adjust your monthly budget and save where possible – try to avoid regularly spending your money on unnecessary things that matter less to you, in the grand scheme of things, than a happy and comfortable retirement. Set achievable lifestyle and financial goals with proper consideration of your future self. Cut back where you can, and redirect that money where it can be better used.

  2. Build a varied portfolio of investments, seeking expert advice – a solid and stable investment portfolio comprising several types of securities could be very helpful to you, significantly boosting your savings and improving your retirement. If you don’t know where to begin, speak with an expert financial advisor to get started on your journey into investing.

  3. Find the right retirement and pension products – many different savings accounts and products are available that can be helpful to you as a retiree. Annuities, for example, convert your savings into a guaranteed monthly income for a given period. This period could be the rest of your life if you purchase an annuity with a lifetime income rider.

The bottom line

If you’ve managed to save $900k for retirement, this is a viable savings for your post-work life.

This will guarantee you a valuable degree of security and comfort in your later years, and it’s a figure many will never reach

For retirement planning advice and investment guidance, connecting with an experienced financial advisor is highly recommended. They can guide you through the daunting world of retirement planning and lead you to success. Get started with Unbiased and find your perfect match.

Can you retire on $900k [Updated May 2024] (2024)

FAQs

Is $900k enough to retire? ›

With $900,000 in a Roth IRA and $2,200 per month in Social Security, you may be able to afford to retire at age 66. However, it could mean some tight budgeting and thin margins. Instead, it might be wise to wait just an extra couple of years to let your portfolio and benefits grow a little bit more.

How long will 900k last in retirement? ›

Yes, it is possible to retire very comfortably on $900k. This allows for an annual withdrawal of around $36,000 from age 60 to 85, covering 25 years. If $36,000 per year or $3,000 per month meets your lifestyle needs, $900k should be plenty for retirement.

How long will $800 K last in retirement? ›

The duration will vary based on your age at retirement and actual spending levels each year. *The amounts for total interest, withdrawals, and taxes are for 30 years. With $800k initially saved, you could withdraw up to $60k annually and still have your portfolio last 20 years and beyond.

What is a good monthly retirement income? ›

More? Financial planners often recommend replacing about 80% of your pre-retirement income to sustain the same lifestyle after you retire. This means that, if you earn $100,000 per year, you'd aim for at least $80,000 of income (in today's dollars) in retirement.

What is the ideal amount of money to retire with? ›

By age 40, you should have accumulated three times your current income for retirement. By retirement age, it should be 10 to 12 times your income at that time to be reasonably confident that you'll have enough funds. Seamless transition — roughly 80% of your pre-retirement income.

How much money should a 70 year old have to retire? ›

How Much Should a 70-Year-Old Have in Savings? Financial experts generally recommend saving anywhere from $1 million to $2 million for retirement. If you consider an average retirement savings of $426,000 for those in the 65 to 74-year-old range, the numbers obviously don't match up.

How many people have $1000000 for retirement? ›

In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings. The majority of retirees, however, have far less saved.

At what age should you have $1 million in retirement? ›

Based on this, if you retire at age 65 and live until you turn 84, $1 million will probably be enough retirement savings for you. However, it's important to remember there is no one-size-fits-all amount.

What percentage of retirees have $3 million dollars? ›

Specifically, those with over $1 million in retirement accounts are in the top 3% of retirees. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) estimates that 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million, and a mere 0.1% have $5 million or more, based on data from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.

Can you live on $4,000 a month in retirement? ›

With $800,000 in savings, you can probably cover $4,000 in monthly living costs. However, retirement accounts alone cannot safely sustain that spending for a 25- or 30-year retirement.

Can I retire at 62 with 800k? ›

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.

What is the 3 rule in retirement? ›

In some cases, it can decline for months or even years. As a result, some retirees like to use a 3 percent rule instead to reduce their risk further. A 3 percent withdrawal rate works better with larger portfolios. For instance, using the above numbers, a 3 percent rule would mean withdrawing just $22,500 per year.

Is $2,000 a month enough to retire on? ›

Retiring on a fixed income can seem daunting, but with some planning and commitment to a frugal lifestyle, it's possible to retire comfortably on $2,000 a month. This takes discipline but ultimately will allow you to have more freedom and happiness in your golden years without money worries.

Is $1,500 a month enough to retire on? ›

While $1,500 might not be enough for non-housing retirement expenses for many people, it doesn't mean it's impossible to stick to this or other amounts, such as if you're already retired and don't have the ability to increase your budget.

What is the average 401k balance for a 65 year old? ›

Average and median 401(k) balances by age
Age rangeAverage balanceMedian balance
35-44$76,354$28,318
45-54$142,069$48,301
55-64$207,874$71,168
65+$232,710$70,620
2 more rows
Mar 13, 2024

Can I retire at 62 with $800,000? ›

With $800,000 in savings and $2,600 in Social Security benefits at age 62, a conservative estimate gives you about $63,200 in income. You may be able to generate more income, depending on how the money is invested and the type of account it is in.

How much does the average person need to retire at 65? ›

Experts say investors usually need about 80% of their pre-retirement income in retirement. So if they earned $100,000 per year pre-retirement, they'd need $80,000 per year in retirement. Investors who live well below their means will need less than 80% of their pre-retirement income when they leave the workforce.

What is the retirement income for 3 million dollars? ›

For a $3 million retirement fund, anticipate a monthly income of $6,250 over 40 years, barring investment growth or loss. Factors such as lifestyle choices, inflation, and healthcare costs will influence how long your savings last.

How much do you need to live a good retirement? ›

Let's start with how much you will need every year. There are lots of figures floating about, but financial experts generally recommend the two thirds rule – for a comfortable retirement, your total pension needs to be about two thirds of your pre-retirement income to enjoy financial independence.

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