There are two ways to look at your net worth by age. The first is to measure your wealth against the median wealth of your age group and peers. This can be modestly helpful as a benchmark, but by and large it tells you nothing about your own needs.
The far more helpful approach is to consider your own financial goals. What do you need to build the life you want, and to afford your own lifestyle in retirement?
At age 35, you still have a lot of flexibility in your net worth. Unlike many other age groups, there really isn’t a “should” for people in their 20’s and mid-30s, and you can even afford a comfortable retirement if you have nothing saved up at all. Talk to a financial advisor to start making a personalized financial plan.
Median Net Worth
We can use the median household as a benchmark for measuring net worth.
U.S. Census Bureau data uses age 35 a hinge. For households 35 and under, the median net worth is about $22,000 according to the most recent data from the .Households age 35-44 have a median net worth of about $97,740. While this data doesn’t necessarily reflect what someone might have in a specific year, it does suggest that either or both the power of compound interest and career progression have a large impact on net worth over time.
This means starting to implement healthy financial strategies today can have an outsized return for your future.
Compare Your Net Worth to Your Goals
Again, median numbers may not be particularly helpful for your personal circ*mstances. For example, a doctor who couldn’t even enter practice until age 28 with $200,000 in debt may have a net worth still in the red at 35, but he can more than likely overcompensate in the long run thanks to his compensation.
The point is, you should measure your net worth by your own, individual situation. What your net worth should be depends entirely on what you have and what you, personally, need.
When it comes to retirement, the net worth that you should have at age 35 depends on the retirement you want to afford. The more money you will want at age 67, the more money you need to have at age 35. There are a number of ways to measure this.
Overall, the rule of thumb is to judge by your salary. Typically, by the time you enter retirement you want to have 10 times your annual salary saved up in your retirement fund. One common benchmark is to have two times your annual salary in net worth by age 35.
So, for example, say that you earn the U.S. median income of $74,500.This means that you will want to have $740,500 saved up by age 67. To reach this goal, at age 35 you may want to have about $149,000 in savings. This will keep you on track with ordinary benchmarks.
However, you can also judge this by doing the math on what you need to save each month to reach your goals. In that case, your benchmarks can be much lower. In fact, your net worth at age 35 can be nothing at all.
Say that you are looking to save the benchmark $740,500. You contribute 10% of your income each month to your retirement account, for an annual contribution of $7,450 per year. You have this money held in an S&P 500 index fund earning the market’s historic average of 10% annual returns. You are 35 years old with nothing saved at all and you intend to retire at full retirement age of 67.
Based on this profile, you will have $1.79 million by the time you retire.This is not only more than you need, it is plenty of money to afford a very comfortable retirement.Talk to a financial advisor today to build a plan to grow your net worth.
Bottom Line
Your net worth by age 35 will help you continue saving for your future. What you should have on hand depends entirely on your personal financial goals, but at this age there is still a lot of room for flexibility.
Retirement Savings Tips
- The best way to make plans is with specific numbers. Use SmartAsset’s retirement calculator to figure out what you need and how you can plan your savings to reach your own retirement goals.
- A financial advisor can help you build a comprehensive retirement plan. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Photo credit: ©iStock/MStudioImages, ©iStock/Ridofranz, ©iStock/andresr,
FAQs
One common benchmark is to have two times your annual salary in net worth by age 35. So, for example, say that you earn the U.S. median income of $74,500. This means that you will want to have $740,500 saved up by age 67. To reach this goal, at age 35 you may want to have about $149,000 in savings.
How much money should I have saved by the age of 35? ›
Savings Benchmarks by Age—As a Multiple of Income
| Investor's Age | Savings Benchmarks |
|---|
| 30 | 0.5x of salary saved today |
| 35 | 1x to 1.5x salary saved today |
| 40 | 1.5x to 2.5x salary saved today |
| 45 | 2.5x to 4x salary saved today |
4 more rowsYou can use this to assess whether you need to catch up on your retirement savings: At age 35, you should have saved the equivalent of your annual income. At age 40, 2.1 times your annual income. At age 50, 4.6 times your annual income.
How much does the average 35 year old have? ›
The average savings for individuals under 35 is $11,200. Individuals between the ages of 35 and 44 have an average savings of $27,900. Those aged 45 to 54 have an average savings of $48,200. The average savings for individuals between 55 and 64 is $57,800.
What is a respectable net worth? ›
Net worth is the difference between the values of your assets and liabilities. The average American net worth is $1,063,700, as of 2022. Net worth averages increase with age from $183,500 for those 35 and under to $1,794,600 for those 65 to 74. Net worth, however, tends to drop for those 75 and older.
What is a good net worth at 35? ›
What do the top quartiles look like?
| Age Range | 75th Percentile Net Worth |
|---|
| Under 35 | $153,000 |
| 35-44 | $415,000 |
| 45-54 | $800,000 |
| 55-64 | $1.122 million |
2 more rowsDec 27, 2023
2024 Average Salaries by Age
| Age Group | Weekly Income | Annual Income |
|---|
| 20-24 years | $758 | $39,416 |
| 25-34 years | $1,080 | $56,160 |
| 35-44 years | $1,303 | $67,756 |
| 45-54 years | $1,275 | $66,300 |
3 more rowsApr 12, 2024
One common benchmark is to have two times your annual salary in net worth by age 35. So, for example, say that you earn the U.S. median income of $74,500. This means that you will want to have $740,500 saved up by age 67. To reach this goal, at age 35 you may want to have about $149,000 in savings.
How much should I have in my 401k at 35? ›
However, the general rule of thumb, according to Fidelity Investments, is that you should aim to save at least the equivalent of your salary by age 30, three times your salary by age 40, six times by age 50, eight times by 60 and 10 times by 67.
Can I retire at 60 with 300k? ›
Yes, you can.
Let's say, for example, you have £300k in a pension after taking your tax-free cash, you have no outstanding debts or mortgage to pay off, and you're entitled to the full state pension at age 67 (or 68 from 2044). For this example, let's say you take £1,500 from your pension per month.
Americans make the most income gains between 25 and 35.
Only 2% of 25-year-olds make over $100k per year, but this jumps to a considerable 12% by 35.
What net worth is considered rich? ›
While having a net worth of about $2.2 million is seen as the benchmark for being rich in America, it's essential to remember that wealth is a subjective concept. Healthy financial habits and personal perspectives on money are crucial in defining and achieving wealth.
Does net worth include a house? ›
Household wealth or net worth is the value of assets owned by every member of the household minus their debt. The terms are used interchangeably in this report. Assets include owned homes, vehicles, financial accounts, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds and mutual funds, and more.
What is a comfortable net worth? ›
(According to Stanley and Danko, an ideal net worth equals your age multiplied by your pretax income, divided by 10.) For anyone 50 and younger making that salary (or less), a $500,000 net worth is good.
What is considered upper class? ›
Middle class: Those in the 40th to 60th percentile of household income, ranging from $55,001 to $89,744. Upper middle class: Households in the 60th to 80th percentile, with incomes between $89,745 and $149,131. Upper class: The top 20% of earners, with household incomes of $149,132 or more.
What is the net worth of the top 1%? ›
In the U.S., it may take you $5.81 million to be in the top 1%, but it takes a minimum net worth of $30 million to be considered among the ultra-high net worth crowd. As of the end of 2023, this ultra-high net worth population is on the rise, reaching 626,000 globally, up from just over 600,000 a year earlier.
How much does the average 35 year old have in savings account? ›
Average savings by age
| Age | Median bank account balance | Mean bank account balance |
|---|
| <35 | $5,400 | $20,540 |
| 35-44 | $7,500 | $41,540 |
| 45-54 | $8,700 | $71,130 |
| 55-64 | $8,000 | $72,520 |
2 more rowsFeb 29, 2024
What is the average 401(k) balance for someone in their 30s? The average 401(k) balance of someone between ages 25 and 34 is $30,017, and for someone between ages 35 and 44, it's $76,354, according to data from Vanguard.
Is $20,000 a good amount of savings? ›
Having $20,000 in a savings account is a good starting point if you want to create a sizable emergency fund. When the occasional rainy day comes along, you'll be financially prepared for it. Of course, $20,000 may only go so far if you find yourself in an extreme situation.
Is saving $1000 a month good? ›
Saving $1,000 per month can be a good sign, as it means you're setting aside money for emergencies and long-term goals. However, if you're ignoring high-interest debt to meet your savings goals, you might want to switch gears and focus on paying off debt first.
