Can you retire with $2 million invested?
Summary. $2 million is far above the average retirement savings in the US. $2 million should afford you to enjoy a comfortable and happy retirement. If you choose to retire at 50, a retirement savings fund of $2 million would provide you with $50,000 annually.
If you have multiple income streams, a detailed spending plan and keep extra expenses to a minimum, you can retire at 55 on $2 million.
At the 4% annual withdrawal, a retiree with $2 million would generate $80,000 per year or $6,666 per month. “This must cover mandatory monthly spending, mandatory annual spending (like property taxes and insurance if you own your own home) and also income taxes,” Wagner says.
The rule means you count on your principal returning 4% and plan to live on that amount. In this scenario, your nest egg of $2 million returns $80,000 in retirement income. So, you would receive $80,000 per year without drawing on the principal, meaning it would continue to generate this amount throughout retirement.
Wealthy: To be considered well off, a person must be in the 90th percentile, possessing a household net worth of $1.9 million. This level of wealth affords trips, charity donations and college funds for children.
Top 2% wealth: The top 2% of Americans have a net worth of about $2.472 million, aligning closely with the surveyed perception of wealth. Top 5% wealth: The next tier, the top 5%, has a net worth of around $1.03 million. Top 10% wealth: The top 10% of the population has a net worth of approximately $854,900.
According to EBRI estimates based on the latest Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts, while just 0.1% have $5 million or more.
Being rich currently means having a net worth of about $2.2 million. However, this number fluctuates over time, and you can measure wealth according to your financial priorities. As a result, healthy financial habits, like spending less than you make, are critical to becoming wealthy, no matter your definition.
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.
Relatively few households with enough assets
Among the 47 million households headed by someone age 60 or older, 7% had household investable assets of at least $2 million, Drinkwater said. Only 6% of the 89 million households in the U.S. headed by someone 40 to 85 years old has that amount, Drinkwater said.
Can a couple retire at 55 with $2 million dollars?
The Bottom Line. At age 55 with $2 million in the bank, you are well positioned to retire early. Just make sure that you anticipate the complicated issues around early retirement, including long-term inflation hedges and health insurance.
As a general rule, most retirees and pre-retirees underestimate what their expenses will be. A $2 million nest egg is substantial and can provide financial security for many couples, but whether it's enough for you depends on various factors.
Is $2 Million Enough to Retire at 65? Applying the 4% rule to $2 million can help you tell if this is a suitable amount. The rule means you count on your principal returning 4% and plan to live on that amount. In this scenario, your nest egg of $2 million returns $80,000 in retirement income.
Key findings. In 2022, the average (median) retirement savings for American households was $87,000. Median retirement savings for Americans younger than 35 was $18,800 as of 2022.
| Age by decade | Average net worth | Median net worth |
|---|---|---|
| 40s | $713,796 | $126,881 |
| 50s | $1,310,775 | $292,085 |
| 60s | $1,634,724 | $454,489 |
| 70s | $1,588,886 | $378,018 |
Households with a net worth of $1 million or more may be classified as members of the upper class, depending on the definition of class used.
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.
Millionaires — those who have a net worth of at least $1 million —are, perhaps not surprisingly, on the older end. They're predominantly 55 and older; just 2.4% are under the age of 35.
To feel wealthy, Americans say you need a net worth of at least $2.2 million on average, according to financial services company Charles Schwab's annual Modern Wealth Survey. But even if you have that much in the bank, it might not be enough to be considered rich in certain places, the survey found.
What is the average and median retirement savings? The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940 according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances.
Do most retirees have a million dollars?
In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings.
In more than 20 U.S. states, a million-dollar nest egg can cover retirees' living expenses for at least 20 years, a new analysis shows. It's worth noting that most Americans are nowhere near having that much money socked away.
Household wealth or net worth is the value of assets owned by every member of the household minus their debt. The terms are used interchangeably in this report. Assets include owned homes, vehicles, financial accounts, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds and mutual funds, and more.
A millionaire is somebody with a net worth of at least $1 million. It's a simple math formula based on your net worth. When what you own (your assets) minus what you owe (your liabilities) equals more than a million dollars, you're a millionaire. That's it!
You need more money than ever to enter the ranks of the top 1% of the richest Americans. To join the club of the wealthiest citizens in the U.S., you'll need at least $5.8 million, up about 15% up from $5.1 million one year ago, according to global real estate company Knight Frank's 2024 Wealth Report.
