For some people, $3 million will seem like a lot. You probably think $3 million is enough to retire you if you’re one of that crowd. But retiring with $3 million at age 65 can last depending on your longevity, lifestyle, and other factors. Let’s break down what you need to consider when determining how much you can afford.
A financial advisor can help you create a financial plan for your retirement needs and goals.
5 factors to consider when planning your retirement
It can be difficult to know how much you need to retire because there are so many variables. Here are five common things you’ll need to consider:
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Life expectancy: People are living longer than before thanks to advances in medical technology and improved nutrition. Life expectancy has dropped slightly in the era of COVID – for females the age has fallen from 79.9 in 2020 to 79.1 in 2021, and for males it has fallen from 74, 2 to 73.2 years during the same period. However, these numbers could rise again as COVID recedes. As people live longer, it is best to plan for the long term.
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Inflation: Many things are uncertain, but one thing is not: inflation is likely to persist even during so-called normal economic times. While the COVID pandemic era has seen historically high inflation, the Federal Reserve is targeting modest inflation of 2%. However, inflation in January 2023 was 6.4%. Therefore, you need to plan accordingly.
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Cost of life: Like inflation, the cost of living increases over the years. However, the cost of living can vary greatly depending on certain factors, such as where you live. For example, some states have more retirement-friendly taxes. This is also why some empty nests decide to move to cheaper places.
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Health care expenditure: Health care costs tend to increase with age, as older people often need more medical care than younger people. Therefore, retirees must include rising health care costs in their retirement plans.
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Social Security: Social security benefits can be a source of retirement income. However, the amount of Social Security benefits you receive will depend on your work history and the age at which you start collecting benefits. Use our Social Security calculator to estimate your benefit.
By considering these five factors when planning for your retirement, you can better estimate your future income needs and develop a plan to meet your retirement goals.
How much do you need to comfortably retire?
In the previous section, we briefly outlined some things you need to consider when planning for your retirement. Now we should estimate the actual amount of money you need to retire. In doing so, we will see if $3 million will be enough.
Of course, discussing these things in general terms and calculating them are two entirely different things. Fortunately, retirement calculators allow you to plug in many of the things we talked about earlier. SmartAsset’s retirement calculator asks you important questions, like where you live, when you plan to take Social Security, and how much retirement income you want. It then estimates how much you’ll need in retirement and how much you need to save per month to reach that goal.
Retirement calculators can go a long way in understanding what the actual numbers look like. However, you should also meet with a financial advisor to develop a personalized plan.
Strategies for Maximizing Retirement Savings
Saving $3 million for retirement savings is an ambitious goal. However, depending on what you put into the calculator (and the plan you’ve worked out with a financial advisor), it may be necessary. If so, there are steps you can take to maximize your retirement savings.
One of the most essential concepts here is to use compound interest to your advantage. Compounding means that you will continue to earn interest on the interest you have earned in the past. In other words, the more time passes, the faster your portfolio grows. So the more time you have, the greater the compounding effect. Even if you can only save a small amount each month, starting early can make a big difference in the long run.
It’s also a good idea to maximize retirement accounts like a 401(k) or an IRA. You can contribute up to $22,500 per year to a 401(k) and up to $6,500 per year to an IRA (starting in 2023). Maximizing these accounts can help you save more money on taxes and grow your retirement savings faster.
You should also diversify your investments by investing in stocks, bonds and real estate. This has several advantages, such as these assets often have different volatility profiles. But they may also have different tax benefits, so investing in more than one may give you an advantage.
Conclusion
Knowing whether $3 million will be enough to retire at age 65 can seem daunting. There are factors to consider, such as inflation, cost of living, life expectancy and healthcare costs. However, plugging numbers into a retirement calculator can help you see where you stand. You should also meet with a financial advisor to develop a personalized plan. If you need to save more, you can maximize your retirement accounts. Also, be sure to save early and diversify your investments.
Tips for Retirement Savings
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A financial advisor can guide you through important financial decisions, such as determining your investment strategy. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be difficult. SmartAsset’s free tool connects you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisors for free to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, start now.
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Deciding how to invest can be a challenge, especially when you don’t know how much your money will grow over time. SmartAsset’s Investment Calculator can help you estimate how much your money will grow to help you decide what type of investment is right for you.
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