Retirement savings magic number, Inflation is affecting how much money Americans think they need to retire comfortably. A recent study found that now people believe they need a record $1.46 million to retire well. This is a big jump from what they thought in 2020, which was $951,000, and even from last year’s $1.27 million.
Despite this increase in the retirement goal, people aren’t saving more. In fact, the study shows that the average amount saved for retirement actually dropped slightly from last year to $88,400. This is down from the peak of $98,800 in 2021. As a result, there’s now a gap of $1.37 million between what people believe they need for retirement and what they’ve actually saved.
Aditi Javeri Gokhale, who’s in charge of planning and investments at Northwestern Mutual, said that nowadays, people think they need a lot more money to retire comfortably. The difference between what they want and what they’ve actually saved has never been bigger. She mentioned that inflation is making us think we need even more money for retirement.
What we think we need for retirement and what we’ve saved don’t match up!
A study found that every generation believes they’ll need a lot of money for a comfy retirement, but the reality is different. Here’s the breakdown:
- Gen Z thinks they’ll need $1.63 million but have only saved $22,800 on average – that’s a $1.61 million gap!
- Millennials expect $1.65 million but have only saved $62,600 on average – leaving a $1.59 million gap!
- Gen X predicts they’ll need $1.56 million but have saved only $108,600 on average – a $1.45 million gap!
- Boomers think they’ll need $990,000 but have saved just $120,300 on average – creating an $870,000 gap!
Even wealthy people aren’t immune. They believe they’ll need $3.93 million for retirement but have only saved $172,100 on average. That’s a huge gap! It’s essential to protect your assets and plan wisely for retirement.
Different generations have various approaches to saving money. Generation Z believes in starting early to secure their future. They think that if they begin saving money sooner, they can retire earlier. This strategy is like the saying “the early bird catches the worm.”
According to a study, young people today understand the importance of planning for retirement and building wealth from a young age. They are taking big steps ahead of their parents and grandparents in this aspect. On average, Generation Z starts saving for retirement at around 22 years old, which is almost ten years earlier than the average age across all generations, which is 31. Most people plan to retire around the age of 65.
Comparatively, Baby Boomers started saving at around 37 years old, while Millennials began at 27 and Generation X at 31.
Generation Z plans to retire at the age of 60, which is twelve years earlier than Baby Boomers, four years earlier than Millennials, and seven years sooner than Generation X. This shows a significant difference in retirement expectations among the generations.Younger generations, like Gen Z and Millennials, believe they’ll live longer compared to older generations like Gen X and Boomers. A study found that around three out of every ten Gen Zers and Millennials think they’ll make it to 100 years old. This is more than the number of Gen Xers and Boomers who share the same expectation.
This optimism about living longer, combined with concerns about the future of Social Security, is pushing people to save more for retirement. Kyle Menke, who is a financial adviser with Northwestern Mutual’s Menke Financial, mentioned that while living longer is great, it also means needing more money for a longer retirement. So, it’s important for people to plan and save for their future accordingly.
Many people forget about taxes, but they’re a big deal, especially for retirement savings. A study found that only 30% of Americans have a plan to reduce the taxes they pay on their retirement money.
Here’s why taxes matter: When you take out money for retirement, you’ll likely have to pay taxes on it—maybe 20% to 30%! That can eat into your savings big time if you’re not prepared.
But there are ways to save on taxes. Some smart moves include:
- Mixing up your retirement accounts: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Consider having both traditional and Roth accounts. Traditional accounts get taxed when you take the money out, while Roth accounts let you take out money tax-free.
- Donating strategically: Giving to charity can lower your taxes, especially if you donate straight from a taxable account.
- Using special health accounts: Look into Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or other tax-friendly health accounts. You can use the money in these accounts tax-free for medical expenses.
So, don’t forget about taxes when planning your retirement. With a little strategy, you can keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket.