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Retirement is supposed to be the golden age of relaxation. Whether it be reading the garden, lazy days spent fishing, or early mornings on the golf course, when you retire, there are no bosses or daily meetings to preoccupy you. But what is the best way to get there?

Saving for retirement can seem daunting, especially when you consider housing expenses, student loan debt, and other day-to-day living expenses.

The average American retirement savings leave much to be desired. Most Americans nearing retirement age in the U.S. have only 12% of the recommended $1 million saved.

Actively preparing for retirement is one of the best ways to ensure you can spend your later years relaxing and enjoying your well-earned time off. There are a wide variety of accounts that allow you to save for retirement, from Traditional and Roth IRAs to a 401k, 403b, or other investment accounts. One of the most popular retirement vehicles is the 401k.

If you’re getting ahead on saving for retirement you may be wondering “how much should I have in my 401k?” While the answer to that varies depending on your financial situation, age, and more, there are a few retirement guidelines that can help you better prepare for the future.

What Is a 401k?

A 401k is an employer-sponsored retirement plan that allows both you and your employer to make contributions to the account. If your employer offers a 401k plan, you are most likely able to select a percentage or specific monetary amount to contribute to your 401k from each paycheck.

One of the major benefits of a 401k is that your employer can also make contributions. If your employer offers matching contributions, it makes sense to participate in the 401k plan, at least up until the matching maximum. Matched contributions are determined at your employer’s discretion, so check your company policy to see what is offered at your workplace.

There are two kinds of 401ks. When you contribute money to a traditional 401k, the money is tax deductible, but will be taxed when you withdraw it in retirement, at the income bracket you are in at that time. When you contribute to a Roth 401k, the money is taxed at the time of contribution, at the tax rate you are currently in. But it’s not taxed when you withdraw the money.

For both Roth and Traditional 401ks, the contribution limit for 2018 is $18,500. If you are over the age of 50, you are allowed to contribute an additional $6,000, known as a catch-up contribution. When you contribute money to a 401k, it is intended to be used in retirement .

Because of this, there is a penalty if you withdraw money before the age of 59 ½. On the other side of the age spectrum, if you do not begin withdrawals by the age of 70 ½, you will be faced with fines and penalties.

Average 401k Balance by Age

Your readiness for retirement will depend on a few factors; including your age, income, and expected retirement age. While everyone’s situation is different, it’s never too early—or too late—to start preparing for retirement.

To see if you’re on track with your retirement goals, take advantage of free online resources, like a retirement calculator that will help you estimate your financial readiness for retirement.

The earlier you start saving for retirement, the better. But if you’ve gotten a late start, there are ways to boost your retirement savings. As you age, your strategies for saving for retirement will shift. Here’s what to expect in your 20s and beyond.

In Your 20s

You’re just starting out in the work force and chances are you’re still paying off your student loan debt. While paying off your student loans and spending money on happy hour may seem more important than saving for retirement, the earlier you begin saving, the more time you will have to benefit from compound interest.

Compound interest is interest calculated on the initial principal and on the interest accumulated over the previous deposit period. This means saving for retirement in your 20s has significant advantages when you are finally ready to retire. Some experts think by the time you turn 30 , you should have saved one year’s salary toward your retirement. The average 401k savings for someone in their 20s in 2017 was $9,900.

In Your 30s

Your 30s are when you want to kick your retirement savings into high gear. It’s a good rule of thumb to up your retirement savings contributions to 15% of your monthly income . You may have other expenses like kids or a mortgage, but you’re also likely making a bit more money than you were in your 20s—so take advantage and invest some of that money in your future.

No one else will be looking out for your financial health in retirement. The average 401k savings for someone in their 30s in 2017 was $38,400.

In Your 40s

By the time you have reached your 40s, you should have a considerable chunk of change socked away for retirement. Common financial advice is that you have at least three times your annual salary saved at 40 if you intend to retire at 67. Often times, your 40s are also when you’re faced with financing your children’s education.

And when push comes to shove, many parents will put their child’s education ahead of their retirement savings. You’re now considerably closer to retirement than you were at 22, so consider opening an independents retirement savings account like an IRA, in addition to contributing to your company’s 401k plan.

Diversifying your investments may help reduce some investment risk. The average 401k savings for someone in their 40s in 2017 was $91,000.

In Your 50s

When you turn 50, you can begin making catch-up contributions to your 401k and IRA. You can contribute an additional $6,000 a year to a 401k and an additional $1,000 a year to your IRA. Take advantage of these catch-up contributions and continue to save.

Consider adding any bonuses or extra income into your 401k to boost your savings. The average 401k savings for someone in their 50s in 2017 was $152,700.

In Your 60s

As you get into your 60s, you can see retirement at the next exit. Now would be a good time to adjust your investments into less risky options. As retirement becomes more real, take the time to prepare for the unexpected and safeguard some of your investments. The average 401k savings for someone in their 60s in 2017 was $167,700.

But the average couple in their mid-60s will have to cover approximately $280,000 in health care costs. Make sure your retirement plan accounts for health care costs.

About 70% of Americans surveyed in 2016 said they plan to work as long as possible. Extending your working years could lead to financial gains down the road. Depending on when you were born, you qualify for Social Security benefits at different ages. If you were born after 1960, you won’t be able to collect Social Security until you are 67.

Invest with SoFi Invest®

If you are looking for opportunities to expand your retirement savings and complement your employer-sponsored 401k plan, consider investing with SoFi. If you have an old 401K, we can help you find out how much you are paying in management fees. Then, we can help you determine the impact of rolling over your 401K into an IRA with SoFi. Schedule an appointment here.

Additionally, at SoFi, we offer a competitive wealth management account with no SoFi management fees and members get complimentary access to financial advisors.

We’ll work with you to establish your financial goals and determine the risk profile you are most comfortable with. SoFi will work to diversify your investments and automatically rebalance your profile as needed. You can start investing with as little as $100.

Ready to take control of your financial future? See how a SoFi Invest account can help you reach your retirement goals.

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SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance.
This information isn’t financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on specific financial needs, goals and risk appetite.
Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit or fully protect loss in a down market.
The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC, a registered investment advisor.
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Target Date Fund Basics

Target date funds are becoming increasingly common when it comes to saving for retirement. A target date fund is a mutual fund with a passive mix of investments curated based on when you’re likely to retire.

They are also sometimes referred to as “set it and forget it” funds, and are relatively popular investment options because they are fairly easy to understand and offer a decent return on investment. You simply put your money in a fund with the target date you plan to retire—and you don’t have to think about it on the daily.

Target date funds surpassed the $1 trillion mark in 2017 —meaning that over $1 trillion in our retirement savings are now invested in these funds—and about nine in 10 employer retirement plans now offer target date funds as an option. Target date funds are, simply, funds organized around a target date for retirement.

For example, a 2050 fund means you are hoping to use those retirement funds in 2050. The idea is that by picking a fund aimed at a specific date, the mix of investments can change as you near that date.

This means you might have riskier investments with the potential for greater return earlier in the fund’s life, when retirement is decades away. Your investments gradually become less risky as retirement nears.

However, it should be noted—as with all investments—target date funds are not without inherent risk. You can lose or gain money if the stocks, bonds, or mutual funds you’re invested in go up or down. The return on investment is never guaranteed.

Additionally, even if two funds have the same target date (or similar names), it doesn’t mean they’re the same. The underlying strategy, risk, and asset allocation varies among the best target date funds.

How Target Date Funds Work

Typically, target date funds are mutual funds with a passively managed mix of assets. A mutual fund is a portfolio of stocks, bonds, and securities. You buy into the fund, as do other investors, essentially pooling your money and allowing you to buy a mix of assets you might otherwise not be able to purchase as an individual. Passively managed means you’re not actively trading stocks and securities.

How a specific target date fund shifts its asset mix over time is called its “glide path.” You’ll probably want to research the glide path before committing to a fund. You’ll also want to consider how much risk you want to take. Even though target date funds generally become more conservative over time, the specific risk and asset allocation varies from fund to fund.

How to Pick the Best Target Date Fund for You

The best target date funds are the ones that match your needs, offer the right level of risk for your desired return, and have low management fees. The average target date fund asset-weighted expense ratio for 2017 was 66 basis points—which means 0.66%. And the typical investor pays 0.47% in fees because so many target date funds come from low-cost providers.

That same report found that Vanguard Group, Fidelity, and T. Rowe Price make up nearly 70% of target date fund assets. In addition to considering fees, here are some other issues to weigh when picking the best target date funds for you.

Pick the Right Target Date

You can choose the year you’re hoping to retire, but it’s not a requirement. If you want to be slightly more conservative, you could consider a target date that’s sooner than you plan to retire.

However, you should make these choices consciously (and plan accordingly—don’t pick a date sooner than your actual retirement and then be surprised when there’s not as much return as you want).

And check in regularly to update your target date as necessary—something most people don’t do. One research paper analyzed 34,000 participants in target date funds and found that investors were more likely to pick a target date ending in “0” rather than one ending in “5,” simply because it’s easier to round to zero.

Assess Your Risk Tolerance

A big question with any investment—and target date funds are no different—is how much risk you want and are willing to tolerate. Your risk tolerance can also change over time, and you may want to change the mix of your investments as that happens.

Do you want your target date fund to carry you to retirement or through retirement?

Some target date funds are “to” retirement, meaning they’ll hit their most conservative allocation at the target date and then won’t change much once you retire. But other target date funds are “through” retirement, meaning they continue to adjust and rebalance their mix of funds even after you retire.

Check in on the mix of investments and the fund’s glide path

It’s probably not a great idea to really “set it and forget it.” You’ll want to check in periodically to ensure your fund still meets your needs. Although many employers may automatically enroll you in a target date fund, it doesn’t mean you have to stay in the fund.

If you’re going to want to be more actively involved in investing for your retirement or more aggressive than a traditional asset allocation strategy, then a target date fund might not be right for you. Additionally, if you’re going to need or want more customization, then you might want a different investment product.

Before you decide on products and investment strategies, think about what your financial plans are and your goals for retirement. As a first step, use our retirement calculator to figure out how much you should be saving.

Investing with SoFi Invest®

It’s never too early—or too late—to take control of your retirement savings. If you’re ready to start actively preparing for retirement, consider investing with SoFi Invest. When you open a invest account at SoFi, you’ll gain access to a team of financial advisors who will work with you to create a long-term financial plan. You can get started with as little as $100, with no SoFi management fees.

Ready to invest for your future? Check out SoFi Invest today.

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SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance.
This information isn’t financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on specific financial needs, goals and risk appetite.
Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC, a registered investment advisor.
The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
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