What is the $1,000-a-month rule for retirement? (2024)

FAQs

What is the $1,000-a-month rule for retirement? ›

The $1,000 per month rule is a guideline to estimate retirement savings based on your desired monthly income. For every $240,000 you set aside, you can receive $1,000 a month if you withdraw 5% each year. This simple rule is a good starting point, but you should consider factors like inflation for long-term planning.

As a general rule of thumb, you will withdraw approximately 5% of your retirement income every year for expenses. The Balance breaks down the numbers below: Start with $240,000 and multiply it by 5%, which equals $12,000. Next, divide $12,000 by 12 months, which totals $1,000 per month.

And if you're aiming for the $2 million club? Well, the number of those who make it is even smaller. We're talking about a sliver of a sliver – somewhere between that 3.2% and the razor-thin 0.1% who've got $5 million or more.

For example, if you have retirement savings of $1 million, the 4% rule says that you can safely withdraw $40,000 per year during the first year — increasing this number for inflation each subsequent year — without running out of money within the next 30 years.

Yes, it is possible to retire comfortably on $500k. This amount allows for an annual withdrawal of $30,000 and below 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.

The ideal monthly retirement income for a couple differs for everyone. It depends on your personal preferences, past accomplishments, and retirement plans. Some valuable perspective can be found in the 2022 US Census Bureau's median income for couples 65 and over: $76,490 annually or about $6,374 monthly.

According to estimates based on the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, only 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts. This percentage drops even further when considering those with $5 million or more, accounting for a mere 0.1% of retirees.

There are estimated to be a little over 8 million households in the US with a net worth of $3 million or more.

Data from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, which utilizes the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, indicates that only about 0.1% of retirees have over $5 million saved for retirement. Additionally, about 3.2% have savings exceeding $1 million.

What are the average and median retirement savings? The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940, according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. The median retirement savings for all families is $87,000.

Can I live off the interest of 1 million dollars? ›

With $1 million invested, it may be possible to live off the interest from that portfolio. However, before deciding to do that, consider consulting with a financial planner who can help you develop the optimal plan for retirement income.

Bankrate's annual Best and Worst States to Retire Study found that Delaware is the best state for retirees in 2024, followed by West Virginia (2), Georgia (3), South Carolina (4) and Missouri (5).

Jania says that living on $1,500 per month during retirement is definitely a possibility if you consider residing in certain states that tend to have a lower cost of living like Kansas, Mississippi or Alabama.

Believe it or not, data from the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances indicates that only 9% of American households have managed to save $500,000 or more for their retirement. This means less than one in ten families have achieved this financial goal.

Understanding the $1K Per Month Rule

According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.

This means you would need $720,000 in savings to comfortably withdraw $3,000 monthly in retirement. For every $1,000 increase in monthly expenses, multiply by 12 to get the annual expense and then calculate based on the withdrawal rate.

Living on $1500 per month in retirement may seem challenging, but with careful planning and smart strategies, it is achievable.

How long will $300,000 last in retirement? If you have $300,000 and withdraw 4% per year, that number could last you roughly 25 years. Thats $12,000, which is not enough to live on its own unless you have additional income like Social Security and own your own place. Luckily, that $300,000 can go up if you invest it.