Retirement planning involves deciding how much money you will save and how much you will invest to achieve the lifestyle you desire. A good way to organize your strategy is to set your savings target according to your age. This will help you track your progress toward your goals. A typical retirement age is 65, 70 or beyond. This information might interest you. In this article, we’re going to focus on how much the average person has saved and possibly should have saved at the age of 70. Remember that every situation is unique and you may have different goals. It is possible to work with a financial advisor To ensure that your savings goals align with the future,
What is the Average Savings of a 70-Year-Old?
According to data from the Federal Reserve’s most recent Survey of Consumer Finances, the average 65 to 74-year-old has a little over $426,000 saved. That’s money that’s specifically set aside in retirement accounts, including 401(k) plans and IRAs.
The Federal Reserve also measures the median (average) and mean (averaged) savings across different types of financial assets. The data shows that the average 70-year old has approximately:
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$60,000 in transaction accounts (including savings and checking)
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Certificate of Deposit ( $127,000)CD) accounts
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$17,000 savings bonds
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$43,000 cash value life insurance
Overall, these numbers indicate an increase in comparison to the Survey of Consumer Finances. The average 65- to 75-year old had $381,000 saved up for retirement in 2016, according to the survey. However, this figure was significantly lower than the average $486,000 saved by 70-year-olds in 2013.
It remains to be seen if the Survey of Consumer Finances for 2022 indicates an increase in savings or a decrease. Social security benefits have experienced several cost-of living increases since the last survey, but they are still being steadily lowered. high inflation has put more pressure on Americans’ spending power. The survey may show that 70-year-olds have less in retirement savings if they’re spending more to compensate for higher prices.
What Savings Should a 70-Year Old Have?
According to financial experts, retirement savings should be anywhere from $1 million up to $2 million. If you consider an average retirement savings of $426,000 for those in the 65 to 74-year-old range, the numbers obviously don’t match up.
There are many factors that can influence the amount of retirement savings a 70-year old should have.
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You desire a retirement lifestyle
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If they are eligible Social Security benefits
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You may also be able to get retirement income from a 401k, IRA, pension, or annuity.
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Other savings include taxable brokerage accounts. Savings accounts and CDs.
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Health and life expectancy
The more money you anticipate spending to cover your cost of living in retirement, the more you’ll typically need to save. Social Security benefits are a staple part of many retirees’ income picture, but those payments may only go so far. As employers choose defined contribution plans, pensions are less common.
Long-term nursing can increase your need for savings and put strain on retirement funds. Medicare doesn’t cover long-term care though Medicaid does. But to qualify for Medicaid, you’ll typically need to spend down your assets. Purchasing long-term care insurance can be a workaround so you’re not at risk of draining your savings.
What is a good net value at 70?
Net worth It is the difference between your assets and your liabilities. In other words, it’s the difference between what you own and what you owe.
The average net worth for Americans 65-74 years old is $1.2 million. The median net worth, $164,000. The typical 70-year-old has around $105,000 in debt, including mortgages, home equity loans, credit cards and student loans, as measured by the Fed’s data.
Your situation will determine what constitutes a good Net Worth. It is also heavily linked to your retirement goals. You can use different rules to calculate the ideal net worth. For example, one rule suggests having a net worth at 70 that’s equivalent to 20 times your annual expenses.
You should have at least $2,000,000 in net worth if you are able to afford $100,000 per year to live in retirement. Your target net worth, however, would be lower if you only spent $40,000 on your living expenses. It would be $800,000.
Is it a good idea for 70-year-olds to retire?
It makes sense. retire at 70 It all depends on how much you have to save and what your vision is for your retirement. When choosing a retirement age, it’s helpful to consider:
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When you’ll really need to take Social Security benefits
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Whether you’ll still work in a part-time capacity after retiring
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How long do you expect to live in retirement
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The current savings rate and your desired savings goal
Your benefit amount can be increased if you delay applying for Social Security benefits to 70 years of age. You’ll be eligible to collect 132% of your benefit amount by waiting longer to apply.
You can continue to save money and invest. retirement if you’re working longer. You can, for example, continue to max out your 401k each year or contribute enough to receive your employer match. To save additional money, you can also funnel money to an IRA.
Retiring at 70 means you’ll have a two-year gap before you’ll need to begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) You can also transfer money from a traditional Roth 401(k). You’ll also need to take RMDs if you have a Roth 401(k), but Roth IRAs are exempt from this rule.
You might choose to convert your traditional IRA into a 401(k) within that window. Roth account. Doing so can mean a higher tax bill in the year of the conversion since you’re required to pay taxes on your traditional IRA earnings. But moving forward, you’d be able to take tax-free distributions from your Roth IRA.
The bottom line
What amount of savings does an average 70-year old have? According to the Federal Reserve it is just under $500,000 The better question, however, may be whether that’s enough for a 70-year-old to live on in retirement You can then align your activities budget accordingly. Retirement on $500,000 is not realistic as there is no end to inflation. Good news: The older you are, the more you can plan and save. invest Future-oriented.
Retirement Planning Tips
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Talk to your financial advisor about your options for retiring at 70, and your retirement timeline. If you don’t have a financial advisor yet, finding one doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool Matches You can meet up to three local financial advisors. Then, you can speak with your matches and decide who is best for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
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You could be able to get more money in retirement by delaying your Social Security benefits. However, taking benefits earlier could lower your monthly payments. Social security can be started as soon as you turn 62. However, you may want to wait until you reach your full retirement age in order to apply. Keep in mind, however, that your benefits amount could be cut if you decide to start Social Security earlier than you should and continue working. Knowing how to maximize Social Security benefits This will allow you to make the most of your investment.
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