How much should I have in investments by age 35?
So to answer the question, we believe having one to one-and-a-half times your income saved for retirement by age 35 is a reasonable target. By age 50, you would be considered on track if you have three-and-a-half to six times your preretirement gross income saved.
Alternatively, your net worth at age 35 should be at least 2X your annual income. Given the median household income is roughly $68,000 in 2021, the above average household should have a net worth of around $136,000 or more. A household is defined as either a dual income earning family or single income earning family.
You can use this to assess whether you need to catch up on your retirement savings: At age 35, you should have saved the equivalent of your annual income. At age 40, 2.1 times your annual income. At age 50, 4.6 times your annual income.
To retire at 35 and live on investment income of $100,000 a year, you need at least $5.22 million invested. With an annual spending target of $65,000, you'll need about $3.25 million invested. A certified financial planner recommends an "aggressive" asset allocation of 80% stocks and 20% bonds.
Some of the best data I can find indicates there are 1,821,745 households that have investment portfolios valued at $3,000,000 or more1. This means roughly 1 out of every 63+ households.
One common benchmark is to have two times your annual salary in net worth by age 35. So, for example, say that you earn the U.S. median income of $74,500. This means that you will want to have $740,500 saved up by age 67. To reach this goal, at age 35 you may want to have about $149,000 in savings.
From age 18-24, only 1% of earners (7% altogether) earn $100k per year or more. This makes these age groups by far the lowest earners in the US. Americans make the most income gains between 25 and 35. Only 2% of 25-year-olds make over $100k per year, but this jumps to a considerable 12% by 35.
So to answer the question, we believe having one to one-and-a-half times your income saved for retirement by age 35 is a reasonable target. By age 50, you would be considered on track if you have three-and-a-half to six times your preretirement gross income saved.
Average Savings by Age: 35 to 44
Americans between the ages of 35 and 44 had an average savings account balance of $27,900, according to the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. Those in this age bracket are now well into adulthood.
| Age Range | Account Balance |
|---|---|
| Under age 35 | $11,250 |
| Ages 35-44 | $27,910 |
| Ages 45-54 | $48,200 |
| Ages 55-64 | $57,670 |
Is 35 too late to start saving for retirement?
It is never too late to start saving money you will use in retirement. However, the older you get, the more constraints, like wanting to retire, or required minimum distributions (RMDs), will limit your options.
No matter your age, there is never a wrong time to start investing. Let's take a look at three hypothetical examples below. For these examples, everyone invests $57.69/week with a 7% growth rate and has an annual salary of $30,000.
Can You Retire at 50 With $300k? It may be possible if you have low expenses and income from other sources. Assuming a 4% withdrawal rate, the funds might generate $12,000 of annual income. That's probably not enough for most people, and you typically don't get Social Security until your 60s.
Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.
While having a net worth of about $2.2 million is seen as the benchmark for being rich in America, it's essential to remember that wealth is a subjective concept. Healthy financial habits and personal perspectives on money are crucial in defining and achieving wealth.
We can also define middle class in terms of net worth. According to the U.S. Census data, the average net worth for U.S. households in 2022 is about $300,000. The median net worth is about $110,000 in 2024. In other words, wealth is concentrated at the top.
Peak earning years are generally thought to be late 40s to late 50s*. The latest figures show women's peak between ages 35 and 54, men between 45 and 64. After that, most people's incomes typically level off. Promotions favor younger people with longer futures*.
According to the U.S. Census, only 15.3% of American households make more than $100,000 annually. A $100,000 salary can yield a monthly income of $8,333.33, a biweekly paycheck of $3,846.15, a weekly income of $1,923.08, and a daily income of $384.62 based on 260 working days per year.
| Age Group | Weekly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| 25-34 years | $1,080 | $56,160 |
| 35-44 years | $1,303 | $67,756 |
| 45-54 years | $1,275 | $66,300 |
| 55-64 years | $1,244 | $64,688 |
How much does the average American make a year? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the average U.S. annual salary in Q4 of 2023 was $59,384. This is up 5.4% from the same time period in 2022 when the average American was making $56,316 per year.
What is the average income by age 35?
| Age Group | Weekly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| 16-19 years | $622 | $32,344 |
| 20-24 years | $758 | $39,416 |
| 25-34 years | $1,080 | $56,160 |
| 35-44 years | $1,303 | $67,756 |
But other factors impact net worth, like income level, employment status, cost of living and financial inheritances. According to the Fed, the median net worth for people between ages 35 and 44 is $135,600. The average is $549,600.
| Age | Average Account Balance | Median Account Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $11,250 | $3,240 |
| 35 to 44 | $27,910 | $4,710 |
| 45 to 54 | $48,200 | $6,400 |
| 55 to 64 | $57,670 | $5,620 |
According to Schwab's 2023 Modern Wealth Survey, Americans perceive an average net worth of $2.2 million as wealthy. Knight Frank's research indicates that a net worth of $4.4 million is required to be in the top 1% in America, a figure much higher than in countries like Japan, the U.K. and Australia.
