Is $1 Million Enough for Retirement? Maybe Not

We live in a world that demands our retirement plans are set decades before we reach our golden age, but what is the exact amount you should spare for your future self.

Not long ago, people believed that a $1 million benchmark for retirement money is enough to live a comfortable life, but is it?

It surely depends on an individual who might get by with less than this amount, but most folks are looking forward to a worry-free old age. If you are among the latter ones, you should know how much you have to put aside.

We are here to help you learn what doesn’t work for an easy retirement, so pay attention.

A Million Dollars Won’t Make You Rich

Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock: Being a millionaire is probably not the definition of being rich anymore

A million dollars was a big impressive number once upon a time, but now it wouldn’t keep you above the poverty line if you were to retire today. If a 67-year-old were to retire in the current economy and have $1 million, they can have an annual income of $40,000 with a 4% withdrawal rate, says Mark Avallone, Potomac Wealth Advisors’ president.

Here is the catch: a 42-year-old is looking forward to such a retirement by 67, they’ll have to suffice for $19,000 per year, which we all know is not sufficient.

What About the 4% Rule?

stevepb /Pixabay: Retirement savings

We mentioned above about the 4% rule, which states that a comfortable life in old age would entail a 4% withdrawal from your savings each year. So, going by the economy we have today, it’s safe to say that a million dollars wouldn’t cut it.

In general, retirement savings should last for at least 30 years according to this rule, but what if you are planning to retire early or want to continue your work even after seventy? This rule will not work then.

Multiples of 25

giggsy25/Shutterstock: Apply the “multiply by 25” principle to calculate sustainable retirement savings

Besides the 4% rule, there’s also a ‘multiply by 25’ principle stating that you should calculate how much you want to have for retirement annually and then multiply it by 25.

So, let’s say you are planning a comfortable retired life with a yearly income of around $50K to $70K, then you are required to set aside $1.25 to $1.75 million. The math might be easy enough, but it’s impossible for a young person who is just enjoying their youth to figure out how much is actually the right amount for their older self.

Both of these rules fail when the actual life circumstances kick in, and you are left with nothing but worry for a future that’s decades ahead. Even surveys confirm that almost 40% of the millennials are always stressed out due to money, and the big question remains—how much is enough for retirement?

“Save Something” is the answer which might be vague, but it works because sitting around and worrying without actually doing anything is worse than saving a little.