For many Americans, $1 million is the benchmark for a secure retirement. But in today’s economy, at what age you can retire with $1 million dollars will depend on a range of factors. These include lifestyle and expenses, your investment strategy and your withdrawal rate. You might find that it’s only enough for a more modest retirement, depending on when and how you retire.
A financial advisor can help you model different retirement scenarios, evaluate risks and create a plan that focuses on making your nest egg last as long as you do.
At What Age You Can Retire With $1 Million
To figure out at what age you can retire with $1 million dollars, we first need to understand how long that amount is likely to last. Most people start with the 4% rule. This means you could reasonably expect to spend 4% of your savings annually, adjusted for inflation, without running out over a 30-year retirement. Under this rule, $1 million would provide $40,000 per year in retirement income. If you prefer a more conservative approach, consider a 3.5% withdrawal rate, which gives you $35,000 per year, or a 3% withdrawal rate instead.
Now, let’s compare those annual figures to what the average retiree spends. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American age 65 and older spends about $55,000 per year. Based on that estimate, $1 million would likely fall short in less than 30 years without additional income or investment growth. To cover this gap, you’d need to supplement your nest egg with Social Security, a pension, or other income sources.
Examples of Retirement With $1 Million
The age at which you retire will determine how long your savings can last and how much you’ll need to withdraw each year. Retiring earlier stretches your money across more years, while delaying retirement can increase Social Security benefits and shorten the time you rely on savings. Here are three examples of a nest egg with $1 million at ages 55, 67 and 70:
- Retirement at 55: Assuming that you will live until age 90 or 95, your savings will need to last between 35 and 40 years. And using the $55,000 annual estimate for retirement expenses, you will have to withdraw 5.5% from a nest egg that is worth $1 million. You will need to adjust those withdrawals each year for inflation and the value of your savings over time. But once you turn 62, you could start claiming Social Security. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the maximum benefit at that age is $2,831 monthly in 2025 (almost $34,000 annually). So deducting those benefits from your total retirement expenses, your withdrawal percentage would drop down to 2.1% ($21,000).
- Retirement at 67: At full retirement age, your savings would have to cover roughly 23 to 28 years, if you live until age 90 or 95. Assuming you have to withdraw the same amount annually ($55,000), you will already be eligible for Social Security, which can help you cover part of that amount. The SSA says that your maximum monthly benefit at this age is $4,018 in 2025 (just over $48,000 annually). Deducting your benefits from your estimated expenses, you would have to withdraw only $7,000 annually. However, you should note that this example assumes that you can claim the maximum Social Security benefit. Comparatively, if your benefits added up to only $30,000 annually, you would still have to withdraw $25,000 or 2.5% from a nest egg of $1 million.
- Retirement at 70: Retiring at this age means that your nest egg will have to cover between 20 and 25 years of life expectancy to reach age 90 or 95. By delaying retirement, you preserve your savings for longer and qualify for higher Social Security benefits. The SSA says that the maximum retirement benefit at this age in 2025 is $5,108 per month (rounding roughly to $61,000 for the year). This amount alone would cover your annual expenses of $55,000. But, just like with the other examples, depending on how much you earned over the span of your career, your benefits could be substantially lower. And, based on your lifestyle and healthcare needs, your expenses could also be substantially higher.
Other Factors Affecting at What Age You Can Retire With $1 Million
Your target retirement age isn’t determined by your savings alone. Several other factors will affect how long your $1 million lasts and how comfortable your retirement will be. Here are four general ones to consider.
Health and Healthcare Costs
Health is one of the biggest factors affecting how long retirement savings last. If you retire before age 65, you’ll need private health insurance, which can cost thousands of dollars each year until you qualify for Medicare. These extra costs can quickly eat into your savings if you haven’t planned for them.
Even with Medicare, retirees still face expenses like premiums, copays, prescriptions and possible supplemental insurance. Long-term care costs can also be high and aren’t fully covered by Medicare. Staying healthy can help stretch your money further, while unexpected health problems may require spending more from your savings to cover care.
Personal Expenses and Cost of Living
Where and how you live plays a major role in how long $1 million will last in retirement. Choosing a lower-cost location, downsizing to a smaller home or reducing housing expenses can stretch your budget significantly. At the same time, ongoing costs like healthcare, travel, hobbies, home maintenance and taxes need to be considered when estimating annual expenses. Balancing these factors can determine whether $1 million will meet your retirement needs depending on when you retire and the lifestyle you plan to maintain.
Other Sources of Income
In addition to Social security benefits, other sources of income can help you cover expenses and reduce how much you need to take from savings each year. Pensions, rental income, annuities, dividends and part-time work can provide steady cash flow and support your retirement budget while preserving more of your savings.
Investment Strategy
Your asset allocation plays a big role in how long your retirement savings will last. A mix of growth and stable investments can help you take withdrawals while still giving your money a chance to grow. Stocks, bonds and cash each serve different purposes, and the right balance depends on your goals and comfort with risk.
Too much risk in retirement can be dangerous. Big market losses early on, called sequence of returns risk, can drain your savings faster because you’re withdrawing from a shrinking portfolio. On the other hand, being too cautious with investments might mean your money doesn’t keep up with rising costs over time.
To preserve your $1 million nest egg over the span of your retirement, a diversified portfolio can help you spread your money across stocks, bonds and cash, thereby reducing the risk of large losses from any single investment. This strategy could position your savings to grow at a pace that keeps up with inflation and even earn steady income.
Bottom Line
So, at what age can you retire with $1 million dollars? The answer depends on your lifestyle, expenses, health and whether you’ll have other sources of income. For some, $1 million might allow for retirement as early as age 60, especially with modest spending and the help of Social Security. For others with higher costs or limited supplemental income, working until 67 or later may provide greater financial security.
Retirement Planning Tips
- A financial advisor can help you make adjustments to your retirement savings strategy to reach different retirement goals. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with 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.
- Mandatory distributions from a tax-deferred retirement account can complicate your post-retirement tax planning. Use SmartAsset’s RMD calculator to see how much your required minimum distributions will be.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/RomoloTavani, ©iStock.com/SewcreamStudio, ©iStock.com/PeopleImages
Read the full article here
