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

Put in your current details and our retirement calculator will tell you whether you are on track for retirement

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

Can you retire on $900k [Updated May 2024]? ›

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.

Can I retire with 900k? ›

Withdrawing 4% from a $900,000 Roth IRA would give you $36,000 in your first year of retirement. With Social Security, you'd have a combined retirement income of approximately $62,400. Again, this is a tax-free income. But it doesn't surpass your spending needs by much, limiting your flexibility.

How long will $800 K last in retirement? ›

With $800k initially saved, you could withdraw $40k-60k annually and still have your portfolio last between 19-28 years. The higher your spending amount, the faster your savings get depleted.

How long will $300 thousand last in retirement? ›

$300,000 can last for roughly 26 years if your average monthly spend is around $1,600. Social Security benefits help bolster your retirement income and make retiring on $300k even more accessible. It's often recommended to have 10-12 times your current income in savings by the time you retire.

How long will $500 K last in retirement? ›

Yes, it is possible to retire comfortably on $500k. This amount allows for an annual withdrawal of $20,000 from the age of 60 to 85, covering 25 years. If $20,000 a year, or $1,667 a month, meets your lifestyle needs, then $500k is enough for your retirement.

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.

Is 800k enough to retire at 62? ›

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. But again, there are many variables.

What is a good monthly retirement income? ›

Many retirees fall far short of that amount, but their savings may be supplemented with other forms of income. According to data from the BLS, average 2022 incomes after taxes were as follows for older households: 65-74 years: $63,187 per year or $5,266 per month. 75 and older: $47,928 per year or $3,994 per month.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement? ›

The $1,000-a-month retirement rule says that you should save $240,000 for every $1,000 of monthly income you'll need in retirement. So, if you anticipate a $4,000 monthly budget when you retire, you should save $960,000 ($240,000 * 4).

Is $4000 a month enough to retire on? ›

The answer is yes, almost 1 in 3 retirees today are spending between $2,000 and $3,999 per month, implying that $4,000 is a good monthly income for a retiree.

Is $1,500 a month good for retirement? ›

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.

Can I retire on $3000 a month? ›

Top the amount with 401(k) savings, living on $3,000 a month after taxes is possible for a retiree. For those who only have social security benefits to rely on, there are many places where they can retire on their checks both in the USA and around the world.

Is $300,000 enough to retire on with Social Security? ›

If you earned around $50,000 per year before retirement, the odds are good that a $300,000 retirement account and Social Security benefits will allow you to continue enjoying your same lifestyle. By age 55 the median American household has about $120,000 saved for retirement, and about $212,500 in net worth.

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

$232,710

Can I retire at 62 with $400,000 in 401k? ›

You can retire a little early on $400,000, but it won't be easy. If you have the option of working and saving for a few more years, it will give you a significantly more comfortable retirement.

What is the 4% rule in retirement? ›

The 4% rule limits annual withdrawals from your retirement accounts to 4% of the total balance in your first year of retirement. That means if you retire with $1 million saved, you'd take out $40,000. According to the rule, this amount is safe enough that you won't risk running out of money during a 30-year retirement.

Is $1.9 million enough to retire? ›

In one 2023 survey, from the global investment firm Schroders, older workers predicted they would need $1.1 million to retire comfortably. A survey from Northwestern Mutual put the figure at $1.27 million. In a 2024 poll by Charles Schwab, 401(k) participants said they'd need $1.9 million to retire.

How long will $1 million last in retirement by state? ›

For retirees in California, the annual cost of living expenses would be $72,319.57, meaning a $1 million retirement fund would last for about 14 years. Retirement can often last 25 years or more, according to Fidelity.

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.

Can you live on $800,000 in retirement? ›

Bottom Line. 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.

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