Throughout your working career, you pay employment taxes that help fund Social Security, which provides income when you retire. In 2023, nearly 67 million people will receive Social Security benefits, collectively totaling more than $1 trillion.
There are strict rules about when you can claim Social Security benefits. You can start collecting retirement benefits as early as age 62, but if you can delay claiming your benefits, your monthly benefit amount can continue growing until you reach age 70.
Learn more about Social Security benefits, early retirement age, and the advantages and disadvantages of filing for your benefits early and late.
Key Points
• Social Security benefits provide income for retirees, with the amount depending on their earnings and the age at which benefits are claimed.
• The full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security benefits varies based on the year of birth.
• Benefits can be claimed as early as age 62, but the monthly amount is reduced compared to claiming at FRA.
• Delaying benefits past FRA can increase the monthly amount through delayed retirement credits, up to a certain point.
• It’s important to consider shortand long-term financial needs before deciding when to claim Social Security benefits.
What Are Social Security Benefits?
Social Security is a social insurance program created in 1935 to pay workers an income once they retired at age 65 or older. When people talk about Social Security benefits, they’re referring to a monthly payment that replaces a portion of a worker’s pre-retirement income.
The amount you receive depends on how much you earned and paid in Social Security taxes during the 35 highest-earning years of your career. Generally speaking, the higher your income, the bigger your monthly check will be — up to a point. Also important is the age at which you claim benefits. Typically, the later you receive benefits, the higher your monthly check will be.
Note that retirees aren’t the only ones who are eligible for Social Security benefits. People with qualifying disabilities, surviving spouses of workers who have died, and dependent beneficiaries may also qualify for benefits.
When the Social Security program began, the full retirement age (FRA) was 65, and that’s still what many in the U.S. think of as the average retirement age. However, as life expectancy in the U.S. has increased, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has adjusted the FRA accordingly.
What Is the Early Retirement Age for Social Security?
You can choose to claim retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, SSA will reduce your benefit by about 0.5% for every month you receive benefits before your FRA. For example, if your full retirement age is 67 and you file for Social Security benefits when you’re 62, you’d receive around 70% of your benefit.
On the other hand, if you wait to claim benefits after your FRA, you’ll accrue delayed retirement credits. This increases your benefit a certain percentage for every month you delay after your FRA. For example, if your full retirement age is 67 and you delay receiving benefits until age 70, you’ll get 124% of your monthly benefits. Note that the benefit increase stops when you turn 70.
Can You Claim Social Security While You’re Still Working?
When you claim your Social Security benefits, the SSA considers you retired. However, you can continue working after retirement and receiving benefits at the same time, though they may be limited.
If you’re younger than FRA for the entire year, the SSA will deduct $1 from your payment for every $2 you earn above an annual limit. In 2023, that limit is $21,240. In the year you reach full retirement age, the SSA will begin deducting $1 for every $3 you make above a different earnings limit — $56,520 in 2023.
No matter their work history, your spouse has the option to claim Social Security benefits based on your work record. That benefit can be up to 50% of your primary insurance amount, which is the benefit you’d receive at FRA. Your spouse can begin receiving spousal benefits at age 62, but they will receive a reduced benefit.
Pros and Cons of Claiming Social Security Early
The main advantage of filing for Social Security early is that you’ll have access to retirement funds sooner. This can be a boon to individuals who need extra money to get by each month. To help you maximize every last dollar, consider using a spending app to create budgets, track spending, and monitor bills.
The main disadvantage of filing early is that you may permanently reduce your monthly benefit amount. This could be a factor to keep in mind as you determine whether you’re on track for retirement.
So how do you decide when to file for your benefits? Consider your “break-even point.” This is the age at which receiving a delayed higher benefit outweighs claiming benefits earlier.
Here’s an example of how that works. Let’s say your FRA is 67 and your annual benefit is $24,000. If you claim your benefit at age 62, your benefit drops to $16,800 a year. If you delay until age 70, your benefit would be $29,760 a year.
By adding up each year’s worth of benefits and comparing them across different potential retirement ages, you find your break-even point. So in that last example, claiming your benefit at FRA breaks even with early filing at age 78. If you expect to live until this age or longer, you may consider filing for Social Security at full retirement age. Delaying until age 70 breaks even with claiming at FRA at age 82. So if you expect to live until 82 or longer, you may consider delaying your benefits.
Social Security is an important source of guaranteed income during retirement and can help ensure you can cover recurring expenses like housing payments and utilities. Your monthly payment amount is determined by how much you’ve earned during your working career and the age at which you claim Social Security benefits. You’re eligible to receive your full benefits when you reach full retirement age (FRA). If you file before then, the monthly payment will be reduced. If you file later, your monthly payment can increase, up to a point. Consider your short- and long-term financial needs carefully before deciding when to claim Social Security.
Whether you’re planning to continue working past your FRA or are preparing for retirement, using a money tracker app can help you manage your overall spending and saving. The SoFi app connects all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see all of your balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score monitoring, plus you can get other valuable financial insights.
Stay up to date on your finances by seeing exactly how your money comes and goes.
FAQ
Can I take Social Security at age 55?
You cannot claim Social Security benefits at age 55. The earliest you can file for benefits is age 62.
What happens to my Social Security if I retire at 55?
If you retire at 55, you will have to wait seven years, until age 62, before you are eligible to claim early Social Security benefits. Retiring early may also affect the size of your benefit if you are leaving work in your top-earning years.
What is the average Social Security benefit at age 62?
The average monthly Social Security retirement benefit in 2023 is about $1,827 for those filing at full retirement age. Filing early at age 62 would reduce that benefit by 30% to $1,278.90.
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The average rate of return on 401(k)s is typically between 5% and 8%, depending on specific market conditions in a given year. Keep in mind that returns will vary depending on the individual investor’s portfolio, and that those numbers are a general benchmark.
While not everyone has access to a 401(k) plan, those who do may wonder if it’s an effective investment vehicle that can help them reach their goals. The answer is, generally, yes, but there are a lot of things to take into consideration. There are also alternatives out there, too.
Key Points
• The average rate of return on 401(k)s is typically between 5% and 8%, depending on market conditions and individual portfolios.
• 401(k) plans offer benefits such as potential employer matches, tax advantages, and federal protections under ERISA.
• Fees, vesting schedules, and early withdrawal penalties are important considerations for 401(k) investors.
• 401(k) plans offer limited investment options, typically focused on stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
• Asset allocation and individual risk tolerance play a significant role in determining 401(k) returns and investment strategies.
Some 401(k) Basics
To understand what a 401(k) has to offer, it helps to know exactly what it is. The IRS defines a 401(k) as “a feature of a qualified profit-sharing plan that allows employees to contribute a portion of their wages to individual accounts.”
In other words, employees can choose to delegate a portion of their pay to an investment account set up through their employer. Because participants put the money from their paychecks into their 401(k) account on a pre-tax basis, those contributions reduce their annual taxable income.
Taxes on the contributions and their growth in a 401(k) account are deferred until the money is withdrawn (unless it’s an after-tax Roth 401(k)).
A 401(k) is a “defined-contribution” plan, which means the participant’s balance is determined by regular contributions made to the plan and by the performance of the investments the participant chooses.
This is different from a “defined-benefit” plan, or pension. A defined-benefit plan guarantees the employee a defined monthly income in retirement, putting any investment risk on the plan provider rather than the employee.
Benefits of a 401(k)
There are a lot of benefits that come with a 401(k) account, and some good reasons to consider using one to save for retirement.
Potential Employer Match
Employers aren’t required to make contributions to employee 401(k) plans, but many do. Typically, an employer might offer to match a certain percentage of an employee’s contributions.
Tax Advantages
As mentioned, most 401(k)s are tax-deferred. This means that the full amount of the contributions can be invested until you’re ready to withdraw funds. And you may be in a lower tax bracket when you do start withdrawing and have to pay taxes on your withdrawals.
Federal Protections
One of the less-talked about benefits of 401(k) plans is that they’re protected by federal law. The Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) sets minimum standards for any employers that set up retirement plans and for the administrators who manage them.
Those protections include a claims and appeals process to make sure employees get the benefits they have coming. Those include the right to sue for benefits and breaches of fiduciary duty if the plan is mismanaged, that certain benefits are paid if the participant becomes unemployed, and that plan features and funding are properly disclosed. ERISA-qualified accounts are also protected from creditors.
💡 Quick Tip: Before opening an investment account, know your investment objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance. These fundamentals will help keep your strategy on track and with the aim of meeting your goals.
401(k) Fees, Vesting, and Penalties
There can be some downsides for some 401(k) investors as well. It’s a good idea to be aware of them before you decide whether to open an account.
Fees
The typical 401(k) plan charges a fee of around 1% of assets under management. That means an investor who has $100,000 in a 401(k) could pay $1,000 or more. And as that participant’s savings grow over the years, the fees could add up to thousands of dollars.
Fees eat into your returns and make saving harder — and there are companies that don’t charge management fees on their investment accounts. If you’re unsure about what you’re paying, you should be able to find out from your plan provider or your employer’s HR department, or you can do your own research on various 401(k) plans.
Vesting
Although any contributions you make belong to you 100% from the get-go, that may not be true for your employer’s contributions. In some cases, a vesting schedule may dictate the degree of ownership you have of the money your employer puts in your account.
Early Withdrawal Penalties
Don’t forget, when you start withdrawing retirement funds, some of the money in your tax-deferred retirement account will finally go toward taxes. That means it’s in Uncle Sam’s interest to keep your 401(k) savings growing.
So, if you decide to take money out of a 401(k) account before age 59 ½, in addition to any other taxes due when there’s a withdrawal, you’ll usually have to pay a 10% penalty. (Although there are some exceptions.) And at age 73, you’re required to take minimum distributions from your tax-deferred retirement accounts.
Potentially Limited Investment Options
One more thing to consider when you think about signing up for a 401(k) is what kind of investing you’d like to do. Employers are required to offer at least three basic options: a stock investment option, a bond option, and cash or stable value option. Many offer more than that minimum, but they stick mostly to mutual funds. That’s meant to streamline the decision-making. But if you’re looking to diversify outside the basic asset classes, it can be limiting.
How Do 401(k) Returns Hold Up?
Life might be easier if we could know the average rate of return to expect from a 401(k). But the unsatisfying answer is that it depends.
Several factors contribute to overall performance, including the investments your particular plan offers you to choose from and the individual portfolio you create. And of course, it also depends on what the market is doing from day to day and year to year.
Despite the many variables, you may often hear an annual return that ranges from 5% to 8% cited as what you can expect. But that doesn’t mean an investor will always be in that range. Sometimes you may have double-digit returns. Sometimes your return might drop down to negative numbers.
Issues With Looking Up Average Returns As a Metric
It’s good to keep in mind, too, that looking up average returns can create some issues. Specifically, averages don’t often tell the whole story, and can skew a data set. For instance, if a billionaire walks into a diner with five other people, on average, every single person in the diner would probably be a multi-millionaire — though that wouldn’t necessarily be true.
It can be a good idea to do some reading about averages and medians, and try to determine whether aiming for an average return is feasible or realistic in a given circumstance.
Some Common Approaches to 401(k) Investing
There are many different ways to manage your 401(k) account, and none of them comes with a guaranteed return. But here are a few popular strategies.
60/40 Asset Allocation
One technique sometimes used to try to maintain balance in a portfolio as the market fluctuates is a basic 60/40 mix. That means the account allocates 60% to equities (stocks) and 40% to bonds. The intention is to minimize risk while generating a consistent rate of return over time — even when the market is experiencing periods of volatility.
Target-Date Funds
As a retirement plan participant, you can figure out your preferred mix of investments on your own, with the help of a financial advisor, or by opting for a target-date fund — a mutual fund that bases asset allocations on when you expect to retire.
A 2050 target-date fund will likely be more aggressive. It might have more stocks than bonds, and it will typically have a higher rate of return. A 2025 target-date fund will lean more toward safety. It will likely be designed to protect an investor who’s nearer to retirement, so it might be invested mostly in bonds. (Again, the actual returns an investor will see may be affected by the whims of the market.)
Most 401(k) plans offer target-date funds, and they make investing easy for hands-off investors. But if that’s not what you’re looking for, and your 401(k) plan makes an advisor available to you, you may be able to get more specific advice. Or, if you want more help, you could hire a financial professional to work with you on your overall plan as it relates to your long- and short-term goals.
Multiple Retirement Accounts
Another possibility might be to go with the basic choices in your workplace 401(k), but also open a separate investing account with which you could take a more hands-on approach. You could try a traditional IRA if you’re still looking for tax advantages, a Roth IRA (read more about what Roth IRAs are) if you want to limit your tax burden in retirement, or an account that lets you invest in what you love, one stock at a time.
There are some important things to know, though, before deciding between a 401(k) vs. an IRA.
💡 Quick Tip: Can you save for retirement with an automated investment portfolio? Yes. In fact, automated portfolios, or robo advisors, can be used within taxable accounts as well as tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
How Asset Allocation Can Make a Difference
How an investor allocates their resources can make a difference in terms of their ultimate returns. Generally speaking, riskier investments tend to have higher potential returns — and higher potential losses. Stocks also tend to be riskier investments than bonds, so if an investor were to construct a portfolio that’s stock-heavy relative to bonds, they’d probably have a better chance of seeing bigger returns.
But also, a bigger chance of seeing a negative return.
With that in mind, it’s going to come down to an investor’s individual appetite for risk, and how much time they have to reach their financial goals. While there are seemingly infinite ways to allocate your investments, the chart below offers a very simple look at how asset allocation associates with risks and returns.
Asset Allocations and Associated Risk/Return
Asset Allocation
Risk/Return
75% Stock-25% Bonds
Higher risk, higher potential returns
50% Stock-50% Bonds
Medium risk, variable potential returns
25% Stock-75% Bonds
Lower risk, lower potential returns
Ways to Make the Most of Investment Options
It’s up to you to manage your employer-sponsored 401(k) in a way that makes good use of the options available. Here are some pointers.
Understand the Match
One way to start is by familiarizing yourself with the rules on how to maximize the company match. Is it a dollar-for-dollar match up to a certain percentage of your salary, a 50% match, or some other calculation? It also helps to know the policy regarding vesting and what happens to those matching contributions if you leave your job before you’re fully vested.
Consider Your Investments
With or without help, taking a little time to assess the investments in your plan could boost your bottom line. It may also allow you to tailor your portfolio to better accomplish your financial goals. Checking past returns can provide some information when choosing investments and strategies, but looking to the future also can be useful.
Plan for Your Whole Life
If you have a career plan (will you stay with this employer for years or be out the door in two?) and/or a personal plan (do you want to buy a house, have kids, start your own business?), factor those into your investment plans. Doing so may help you decide how much to invest and where to invest it.
Find Your Lost 401(k)s
Have you lost track of the 401(k) plans or accounts you left behind at past employers? It may make sense to roll them into your current employer’s plan, or to roll them into an IRA separate from your workplace account. You might also want to review and update your portfolio mix, and you might be able to eliminate some fees.
Know the Maximum Contributions for Retirement Accounts
Keep in mind that there are different contribution limits for 401(k)s and IRAs. For those under age 50, the 2023 contribution limit is $22,500 for 401(k)s and $6,500 for IRAs. For those 50 or older, the 2023 contribution limit is $30,000 for 401(k)s and $7,500 for IRAs. Other rules and restrictions may also apply.
Learn How to Calculate Your 401(k) Rate of Return
This information can be useful as you assess your retirement saving strategy, and the math isn’t too difficult.
For this calculation, you’ll need to figure out your total contributions and your total gains for a specific period of time (let’s say a calendar year).
You can find your contributions on your 401(k) statements or your pay stubs. Add up the total for the year.
Your gains may be listed on your 401(k) statements as well. If not, you can take the ending balance of your account for the year and subtract the total of your contributions and the account balance at the beginning of the year. That will give you your total gains.
Once you have those factors, divide your gains by your ending balance and multiply by 100 to get your rate of return.
Here’s an example. Let’s say you have a beginning balance of $10,000. Your total contributions for the year are $6,000. Your ending balance is $17,600. So your gains equal $1,600. To get your rate of return, the calculation is:
(Gains / ending balance) X 100 =
($1,600 / $17,600) X 100 = 9%
Savings Potential From a 401(k) Potential by Age
It can be difficult to really get a feel for how your 401(k) savings or investments can grow over time, but using some of the math above, and assuming that you keep making contributions over the years, you’ll very likely end up with a sizable nest egg when you reach retirement age.
This all depends, of course, on when you start, and how the markets trend in the subsequent years. But for an example, we can make some assumptions to see how this might play out. For simplicity’s sake, assume that you start contributing to a 401(k) at age 20, with plans to start taking distributions at age 70. You also contribute $10,000 per year (with no employer match, and no inflation), at an average return of 5% per year.
Here’s how that might look over time:
401(k) Savings Over Time
Age
401(k) Balance
20
$10,000
30
$128,923
40
$338,926
50
$680,998
60
$1,238,198
70
$2,145,817
Using time and investment returns to supercharge your savings, you could end up with more than $2 million through dutiful saving and investing in your 401(k). Again, there are no guarantees, and the chart above makes a lot of oversimplified assumptions, but this should give you an idea of how things can add up.
Alternatives to 401(k) Plans
While 401(k) plans can be powerful financial tools, not everyone has access to them. Or, they may be looking for alternatives for whatever reason. Here are some options.
Roth IRA
Roth IRAs are IRAs that allow for the contribution of after-tax dollars. Accordingly, the money contained within can then be withdrawn tax-free during retirement. They differ from traditional IRAs in a few key ways, the biggest and most notable of which being that traditional IRAs are tax-deferred accounts (contributions are made pre-tax).
Learn more about what IRAs are, and what they are not.
Traditional IRA
As discussed, a traditional IRA is a tax-deferred retirement account. Contributions are made using pre-tax funds, so investors pay taxes on distributions once they retire.
HSA
HSAs, or health savings accounts, are another vehicle that can be used to save or invest money. HSAs have triple tax benefits, in that account holders can contribute pre-tax dollars to them, allow that money to grow tax-free, and then use the holdings on qualified medical expenses — also tax-free.
Retirement Investment
Typical returns on 401(k)s may vary, but looking for an average of between 5% and 8% would likely be a good target range. Of course, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be up or down years, and averages, themselves, can be a bit misleading.
While your annual return on your 401(k) may vary, the good news is that, as an investor, you have options about how you save for the future. The choices you make can be as aggressive or as conservative as you want, as you choose the investment mix that best suits your timeline and financial goals.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.
FAQ
What is the typical 401(k) return over 20 years?
The typical return for 401(k)s over 20 years is between 5% and 8%, assuming a portfolio sticks to an asset mix of roughly 60% stocks and 40% bonds. There’s also no guarantee that returns will fall within that range.
What is the typical 401(k) return over 10 years?
Again, the average rate of return for 401(k)s tends to land between 5% and 8%, with some years providing higher returns, and some years providing lower, or even negative returns.
What was the typical 401(k) return for 2022?
The average 401(k) lost roughly 20% of its value during 2022, as increasing interest rates and shifting economic conditions over the course of the year (largely due to increasing inflation) caused the economy to sputter.
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When it comes to figuring out when you can retire, there are a number of factors to consider: Social Security, inflation, and health care costs.
Thankfully, there’s retirement calculators for figuring out these costs, which might help you plan for the future. But first, to decide when you can retire, determine at what age you want to retire and then see how that decision affects your finances.
Key Points
• Factors to consider when deciding when to retire include Social Security benefits, inflation, and healthcare costs.
• The full retirement age for Social Security benefits varies based on birth year.
• Early retirement can result in reduced Social Security benefits, while delaying retirement can increase monthly benefits.
• Different retirement accounts have specific rules for withdrawals, such as Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs.
• Other sources of retirement income to consider include part-time work, pensions, inheritance, and rental income.
When Can You Get Full Social Security Benefits?
As you consider when to apply for Social Security, you’ll want to understand at what age the government allows people to retire with full Social Security benefits. Not only that, at what age can people start withdrawing from their retirement accounts without facing penalties? For Social Security, the rules are based on your birth year.
The Social Security Administration has a retirement age calculator . For example, people born between 1943 and 1954 could retire with full Social Security benefits at age 66.
Meanwhile, those born in 1955 could retire at age 66 and two months, and those born in 1956 could retire at age 66 and four months. Those born in or after 1960 can retire at age 67 to receive full benefits. This can help with your retirement planning.
Social Security Early Retirement
A recipient will be penalized if they retire before full retirement age. The earlier a person retires, the less they’ll receive in Social Security.
Let’s use Jane Doe as an example and say she was born in 1960, so full retirement age is 67. If she retires at age 66, she’ll receive 93.3% of Social Security benefits; age 65 will get Jane 86.7%. If she retires on her 62nd birthday — the earliest she can receive Social Security — she’ll only receive 70% of earnings.
Here’s a retirement planner table for those born in 1960, which shows how one’s benefits will be reduced with early retirement.
If a person wants to keep working until after full retirement age, they could earn greater monthly benefits. This is helpful to know when choosing your retirement date.
For example, if the magic retirement number is 66 years but retirement is pushed back to 66 and one month, then Social Security benefits rise to 100.7% per month. So if your monthly benefit was supposed to be $1,000, but you wait until 66 years and one month, then your monthly allotment would increase to $1,007.
If retirement is pushed back to age 70, earnings go up to 132% of monthly benefits. But no need to calculate further: Social Security benefits stop increasing once a person reaches age 70. Here is a SSA table on delayed retirement .
💡 Quick Tip: You can’t just sit on the money you save in an IRA account forever. The government requires withdrawals each year, starting at age 73 (for those born in 1950 or later). These are called required minimum distributions or RMDs.
Other Retirement Income to Consider
In retirement, you may have other income sources that can help you support your lifestyle and pay the bills. These might include:
Part-Time Work
Working after retirement by getting a part-time job, especially if it’s one you enjoy, could help cover your retirement expenses. And as long as you have reached your full retirement age (which is based on your year of birth, as noted above), your Social Security benefits will not be reduced, no matter what your earnings are.
However, if you retire early, you need to earn under an annual limit, which is $21,240 in 2023, to keep your full benefits. If you earn more than that, you’ll lose $1 in Social Security benefits for every $2 you earn over the limit.
Pension
A pension, also sometimes known as a defined benefits plan, from your employer is usually based on how long you worked at your company, how much you earned, and when you stopped working. You’ll need to be fully vested, which typically means working at the company for five years, to collect the entire pension. Check with the HR rep at your company to get the full details about your pension.
A pension generally gives you a set monthly sum for life or a lump sum payment when you retire.
Inheritance
If you inherit money from a relative, these funds could also help you pay for your retirement. And fortunately, receiving an inheritance won’t affect your Social Security benefits, because Social Security is based on money you earn.
Rental Income
Another potential money-earning idea: You could rent out a home you own, or rent out just the upper floors of the house you live in, for some extra income in retirement. Like an inheritance, rental income will not affect your social security benefits.
Major Expenses in Retirement
It’s important to draw up a budget for retirement to help determine how much money you might need. The amount may be higher than you realize. These are some of the major expenses retirees commonly face.
Healthcare
For most people, healthcare costs increase as they get older, as medical problems can become more serious or pervasive. According to Fidelity, the average amount that a couple who are both age 65 will spend on healthcare during their first year of retirement is $12,300.
Housing
Your mortgage, home insurance, and the costs of maintaining your house can be a significant monthly and yearly expense. In fact, Americans aged 65 and older spent $16,880 annually on housing during the years from 2016 to 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Travel
If you’re planning to take trips in retirement, or even just drive to visit family, transportation costs can quickly add up. From 2016 to 2020, people over age 65 averaged about $7,062 in transportation costs a year.
When Can You Withdraw From Retirement Accounts?
Now let’s look at retirement accounts. Each type of account has different rules about when money can be taken out.
If a Roth IRA account has existed for at least five years, withdrawals from the account are usually okay after age 59 ½ without consequences. Taking out money earlier or withdrawing money from a Roth IRA that’s been open for fewer than five years could result in paying penalties and/or taxes.
There is a little wiggle room. Retirement withdrawal rules do have exceptions for issues like disability or educational expenses, and there is an option to withdraw money early and pay taxes or penalties.
If a person is at least 59 ½ and has a Roth IRA that is less than five years old, taxes will need to be paid upon withdrawal but not penalties. Taxes or penalties might not need to be paid at age 59 ½ and if the Roth IRA has been open for five years or more.
People with a traditional IRA can make withdrawals from ages 59 ½ to 72 without being penalized. The government will charge a 10% penalty on withdrawals before age 59.5, and depending on location, a state penalty tax might also be charged.
People with 401(k)s can typically retire by age 55 and make withdrawals without receiving a penalty. People with either a traditional IRA or 401(k) must start making withdrawals by age 72 or face a hefty penalty.
💡 Quick Tip: Did you know that opening a brokerage account typically doesn’t come with any setup costs? Often, the only requirement to open a brokerage account — aside from providing personal details — is making an initial deposit.
The Takeaway
Deciding at what age to retire is a personal choice. However, by planning ahead for some common expenses, and understanding the age at which you can get full Social Security benefits, you can use a retirement calculator formula to figure out how much money you’ll need each year to live on. And you can supplement your Social Security benefits with other forms of income and by making smart decisions about savings and investments.
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FAQ
How do I calculate my retirement age?
To calculate your full retirement age, which is the age you can receive your full retirement benefits, you can use the Social Security administration’s retirement age calculator . Essentially, if you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. For those born between 1954 and 1959, the full retirement age is between 66 and 67, depending exactly how old they are when they retire (such as age 66 and two months). And for those born between 1943 and 1954, full retirement age is 66.
The earlier you retire before your full retirement age, the less you’ll receive in benefits. Conversely, the longer you keep working, up to age 70, the more you can receive.
Can you legally retire before 55?
Yes, you can legally retire before age 55. However, your Social Security benefits typically won’t kick in until age 62. And even then, because you’ll be tapping into those benefits before your full retirement age of 66 or 67, you’ll get a reduced amount, or just 70%, of your benefits.
There is something called the rule of 55 that allows you to withdraw funds from a 401(k) or 403(b) at age 55 without paying a penalty. That may be something to look into if you’re planning to retire early.
Can you retire after 20 years of work?
In some lines of work, you can retire after 20 years on the job and likely get a pension. This includes those in the military, firefighters, police officers, and certain government employees.
That said, anyone in any industry can retire at any time. However, Social Security benefits don’t typically begin until age 62.
SoFi Invest® INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below:
Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
External Websites: 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.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
At some point or another, you’ve probably wondered if you have enough money for the future and asked yourself, “how much retirement should I have at 40?”
It’s an important question. Hopefully, you’re already saving some money for retirement. However, you might not be saving enough to retire when you want.
There are different ways to save money for retirement. The sooner, the better—so that it can start adding up. Here’s how to maximize your retirement savings at age 40 and beyond.
Understanding Your Retirement Savings at 40
Now, to answer the question: How much money should I have saved by 40? A general rule of thumb recommended by many financial advisors is to have about three times your annual salary saved in retirement money by the time you’re 40.
According to a recent study from Northwestern Mutual, people in their forties say they currently have $77,400 saved for retirement. However, that’s a long way from the amount they expect to need for retirement, which is $1.28 million.
How Your Retirement Savings Compare to National Averages
Compared to the guideline of having three times your annual salary saved by the time you’re 40, if you only have the amount reported by the respondents in the Northwestern study — $77,400 — you’ve got some work to do. The good news is, you’ve probably got around 20 years or more to help get where you need to be by the time you’re ready to retire.
Factors Influencing Your Retirement Savings So Far
As you reach your 40s, it’s likely that your income is increasing, but so are the obligations that are tied to your money.
You might be saving money for your kids’ college; you probably have mortgage payments and existing debt, including your own student loans; you may even be taking care of aging parents. It’s a lot of financial multitasking and you have to prioritize.
In addition to all that, inflation over the past couple of years has made many prices higher, which could increase your cost of living. Overall, prices are 13% higher than they were two years ago, according to Consumer Price Index data. You might also be dealing with unemployment or a job layoff. All these factors can make saving for retirement more challenging.
The Right Retirement Savings Path for You
To map out a savings plan that makes sense, you can start by estimating how much money you’ll need for retirement. It’s also a good idea to look at your goals. That includes figuring out when you might want to retire, what kind of lifestyle you want in retirement, and how much money you might have coming in during your golden years. That will help you determine how much you need to save.
Projecting Your Retirement Needs
Start by thinking about the kind of lifestyle you’d like to have in retirement. Will you move to a smaller home? If so, you may save money on housing costs. On the other hand, if you’d like to travel frequently, your expenses may increase.
Also, estimate what your budget as a retiree might be. Include housing, utilities, insurance, food, transportation, clothes, and so on. And don’t forget entertainment expenses like movies, concerts, and meals out.
Next, factor in healthcare expenses. Health-related costs can be significant in retirement, depending on your medical situation.
Retirement Savings Rate: How Much of Your Income to Save
While each person’s situation and needs are unique, there are some general guidelines that can help project your financial needs during retirement.
For instance, according to Fidelity, you should try to save 15% of your pre-tax income each year if you plan to retire at age 67.
Another rule, known as the 80% rule, says you should have enough money by the time you retire to cover 80% of your pre-retirement income.
Milestones for Retirement Savings By Decade
As discussed, when you plan to retire and what kind of lifestyle you’d like to have in retirement are two of the main factors that affect how much money you’ll need to save. The milestones below are general, but they will give you an idea about how much to save at various ages.
Retirement Savings By:
• Age 30: 1x your annual income
• Age 40: 3x your annual income
• Age 50: 6x your annual income
• Age 60: 8x your annual income
• Age 67: 10x your annual income
Maximizing Your Retirement Savings in Your 40s
If you haven’t saved 3 times your annual income by your 40s, or even if you have, here are some ways to make the most of your retirement funds in this decade.
Benefits of a Roth 401(k) and When to Consider It
Some 401(k) plans give you the opportunity of choosing a Roth 401(k) to save for retirement. If your employer offers such a plan you may want to consider it.
The difference between a Roth 401(k) and a traditional 401(k) is that with a Roth 401(k), contributions are made using after-tax funds. That means they aren’t tax deductible, but the withdrawals you make in retirement are tax-free. In addition, you don’t pay taxes on your annual investment earnings in a Roth 401(k). With a traditional 401(k), the contributions you make are tax deductible, however, you will pay taxes on your retirement withdrawals. So a Roth 401(k) can be beneficial if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket by the time you retire.
The good news is, you can contribute to both a Roth 401(k) and a traditional 401(k) as long as your plan allows it. Just know that there are yearly limits on your contributions. Across both plans, individuals under age 50 can contribute $22,500 annually in 2023.
If you have a traditional 401(k), there are a number of strategies to max out your 401(k) that are worth looking into. For example, it makes sense to contribute at least enough to qualify for any employer matching that your company offers. Why lose out on the “free” money your employer is willing to contribute to your retirement savings?
Catch-Up Contributions: Leveraging Them When the Time Comes
Once you reach age 50, you can make catch-up contributions to your 401(k) plan, as long as your plan allows them, which could help you save even more for retirement. In 2023, the catch-up contribution is an additional $7,500. That means, in total, individuals 50 and older could contribute up to $30,000 to their 401(k) in 2023.
Knowing about catch-up contributions when you’re in your forties could help you plan and prepare for them when you reach 50. Catch-up contributions can help you make the most of your retirement plan.
Investment Strategies for Mid-Career Savers
There are many other ways to save for retirement, even beyond the employer-sponsored 401(k) and Roth 401(k).
Some people choose to put their retirement savings in more than one type of account. This is useful if you want to set aside more than the yearly contribution limits on 401(k) plans. In that case, it might make sense to open an IRA savings account to save beyond the 401(k) limits, as long as you meet the necessary criteria.
Your retirement savings are extremely important. However, if you don’t have an emergency fund that can cover three to six months’ worth of living expenses, consider putting that at the top of your priority list.
Why? While retirement is still likely to be years away if you’re 40 now, an emergency could happen at any time. For instance, you may be faced with an unexpected medical procedure that you’ll need to pay for if insurance doesn’t cover it all. Or your heater might break in the middle of winter and need to be replaced. If you don’t have the emergency funds to cover these things, you risk taking on debt. And that could in turn limit your retirement savings as you work to pay off that debt.
Of course, if you can afford to contribute to both an emergency fund and your retirement savings, by all means, do so.
Planning for Healthcare Expenses in Retirement
As people grow older, their healthcare needs and costs typically increase. For many, healthcare can be one of the biggest retirement expenses.
Fidelity estimates that the average person may need $157,500 to cover healthcare costs in retirement. If you have a high-deductible health insurance plan, you might want to look into a Health Savings Account (HSA), which could potentially help you save money to cover some healthcare costs.
Incorporating Home Costs Into Retirement Savings
Housing costs are another major retirement expense. You may have mortgage payments, homeowner’s insurance, and home maintenance and repairs to pay for. If you rent, you’ll have to cover your monthly rental fee plus renters’ insurance.
Additionally, where you live — the city and state — can impact how much you pay for housing. In general, living on the coasts can be more expensive. You may want to take the cost of living into consideration when you’re thinking about where you want to live in retirement.
Family and Retirement: Balancing the Present and Future
Of course, along with saving for retirement, you have present-day expenses and events to pay for as well. This includes important family milestones, such as college and a child’s wedding. Fortunately, with proper budgeting and planning, it is possible to help cover these expenses and save for retirement at the same time.
Budgeting for College Savings While Prioritizing Retirement
To keep building a retirement nest egg while saving for college for your kids, consider some college-savings plans. One good option to consider: a 529 plan that you fund with after-tax dollars. You can contribute to the plan on a regular basis, or whenever you have extra money, and family members and friends can contribute as well. For instance, instead of birthday gifts, ask loved ones to contribute to your child’s 529 instead.
Virtually every state offers a 529 plan and you can shop around to find one that has the best tax benefits and lowest costs. Open the plan as early as you can when your child is young so that the money invested has more time to grow.
Weddings and Other Major Family Expenses
If you’d like to help pay for your child’s wedding, you could put some money in a savings or investment account so that it can grow over time. If the wedding is coming up relatively soon, you could put your money into a high-yield savings account, for instance, to get a higher interest rate than you’d get from a regular savings account. If the wedding is farther in the future, you might want to invest in mutual funds or a stock index fund, which could deliver more growth.
Expert Strategies to Increase Retirement Savings
There are a number of smart ways to maximize your savings and be on track for retirement. Here are a few strategies experts advise.
Salary Negotiations and Their Long-Term Impact on Savings
If it’s been a while since you’ve received a raise, this may be a good time to ask for one. By age 40, you’ve probably developed skills that make you valuable to your employer.
If you need some incentive for negotiating for a higher salary, consider this: Even an extra $100 a week invested for the next 20 years with a 10% annual return could give you approximately $300,000 more in retirement savings.
Building a Solid Financial Foundation with a Six-Month Emergency Fund
As we discussed earlier, having an emergency fund is critical for any unexpected expenses that arise. Ideally, it’s wise to have six months’ worth of expenses saved up. That can help tide you over in case of job loss or some other significant event that affects your income.
You can open a high-yield savings account for your emergency fund to help it grow. Consider automating your savings to make sure you’re contributing to your emergency fund regularly.
Then, once you’ve reached six month’s worth, you can allocate the money you had been contributing to the emergency fund to your retirement savings.
Why Prioritizing Roth Retirement Accounts Can Pay Off
Investing in a Roth IRA can be helpful if you want to withdraw money in retirement without paying taxes on it. After-tax accounts can be appealing to individuals who plan to achieve financial independence at a younger age and retire early. Unlike qualified plans, which place penalties on withdrawing funds before a certain age, an after-tax account is a pool of money that you can withdraw from without having to worry about penalties if you access the account before age 59 ½.
Even if you wait until age 67 to retire, if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket at retirement, a Roth IRA can make sense since you won’t have to pay taxes on retirement withdrawals.
For 2023, you can contribute up to $6,500 annually in a Roth IRA. Individuals 50 and older can contribute $7,500. That said, there are income limits on Roth IRAs. The amount you can contribute starts to phase out if you earn more than $138,000 as a single tax filer, or $218,000 for married couples who file jointly.
The Takeaway
While there are conventional rules of thumb as to how much money you should have saved by 40, the truth is everyone’s path to a comfortable retirement looks different. One piece of advice is universal, however: The sooner you start saving for retirement, the better your chances of being in a financially desirable position later in life.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
Invest with as little as $5 with a SoFi Active Investing account.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
SoFi Invest® INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below:
Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.
The challenge of identifying a great city to retire in is that retirees have lots of different needs. Proximity to kids and grandkids, if you have them, is a key factor for many retirees. One retiree might want a beach while another wants ski slopes; one wants a small town vibe, another big city culture.
But there are some concerns that many retirees share: For example, is it affordable? The average retirement check for those collecting Social Security at age 65 in 2022 was $1,676, according to figures from the Social Security administration. How far that goes in retirement is dependent on a lot of factors, not the least of which is location, location, location.
But there are other considerations besides cost of living. Are there adequate medical facilities and personnel? Is the state’s tax structure advantageous for retirees? How is the crime rate? How well is the area expected to fare in climate change?
Rather than listing a select few of the more than 100,000 cities and towns in the U.S., what follows highlights some of the best cities to retire to in various categories. Depending on what’s most important to you, you can assign a value to each factor to help you pick the best options. Knowing where you want to retire and how much you will need to live on can help you decide when is a good time to retire. Now, some answers to the question, What are the best cities to retire in?
States with Favorable Tax Environments
If you have planned for your retirement years by opening an individual retirement account and funding it, you may not want to pay out a chunk of that in taxes. So, looking at the tax structure of various states can have a big impact on where you decide to retire.
So when considering the best cities to retire in the U.S., you may want to think about how a state’s sales tax, property tax, estate tax, and income tax stack up. Also think about whether a state you’d retire in will or won’t tax your pension. It has another list of states that won’t tax your pension. Hawaii, Alabama, and Tennessee all score well on these lists, but so do a lot of others that may better fit your lifestyle.
Cities Predicted to Do Well in Climate Change
Climate change threatens to trigger rising sea levels, rising temperatures, drought, wildfires, and more. If you plan to buy a home in your retirement haven, you may find that housing values, mortgage loans, and future mortgage refinancing may be affected by the expected impacts of climate change.
Some places are predicted to fare better than others because of their location, elevation, access to water, and other factors. Among these are Portland, Oregon; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Minnesota’s Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Research shows large coastal cities have generally invested more in resiliency measures to protect against climate change impacts than those in the Midwest.
Moreover, some cities are actively planning climate justice — or racial and social equity — into their climate mitigation plans. Oakland, California; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; and Baltimore, Maryland all make that list.
Cities with Great Medical Resources
Since retirees may encounter healthcare issues as they age, having the right medical resources available is important. Moving to a quaint town or remote area might seem perfect, until you need a physical therapist or a doctor who specializes in gerontology.
In one ranked list of cities by health resources, Vermont towns do exceptionally well according to this list, but so do Missoula, Montana, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In addition to seeing where good health facilities are, you should evaluate the cost of those facilities. Healthcare is one of several crucial factors in calculating typical retirement expenses.
One way to save is to live in a small town or city where the cost of living is below the national average. Many cities and towns in Alabama check a lot of boxes for retirees including having the lowest cost of living and a favorable tax environment.
Other cities that have a lower cost of living than the U.S. average include Lake Charles, Louisiana at about 14.5% lower than the national average; Topeka, Kansas at 14.7% lower; and Amarillo, Texas, at nearly 20% lower than the national average. Keep in mind, the earlier you retire, the lower your Social Security check will be, so where you want to live could impact when you retire.
Most Diverse Cities
For many people, diversity is a key factor to being able to comfortably settle in a town or city. This might include racial diversity, ethnic diversity, linguistic diversity, cultural diversity and more.
Oakland, California; New York, New York; and Chicago, Illinois often top lists for diversity, but can also be pricey places to live. Luckily there are other cities that are also very diverse including Jersey City, New Jersey; Gaithersburg and Germantown Maryland; Spring Valley, Nevada; and Kent, Washington.
Cities with Lowest Crime Rates
Generally speaking, the smaller the place, the less crime there is. That said, there are also some decent-sized cities that are recognized as being very safe. Columbia, Maryland gets high marks for being a very safe city. Others in that category are Nashua, New Hampshire; Portland, Maine; Gilbert, Arizona; and Raleigh, North Carolina. Least safe cities include St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; and Oakland, California. That’s what makes the choosing tricky, Oakland fares very well in some categories, but not well at all on crime.
Most Accessible for People with Disabilities
Through the eyes of a person with disabilities, cities can look quite different. There’s the question of affordability, but also questions like whether restaurants, supermarkets, and parks are wheelchair accessible; whether the city is walkable; and the share of accessible homes.
If this is a consideration as you contemplate retirement, know this: Interestingly, Minneapolis, Minnesota — even with its annual snowfall of around 50 inches — tops the list. Other cities that score well on the accessibility scale include Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Overland Park, Kansas.
Cities with Cool Stuff to Do
Another facet of what makes cities great for retirees is the availability of cultural opportunities from outdoor activities to volunteering, theater, and restaurants. One list of such opportunities took into account climate change; but didn’t weigh heavily on cost of living. It scored Austin, Texas high on all counts, though anyone who has lived there can attest to whole chunks of summer spent indoors trying to escape temperatures of 100 or more. Other cities that ranked high included Ashland, Oregon; Boston, Massachusetts; and Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Cities with Over 55 Communities
Some people prefer to live in communities that have young professionals and families, while others prefer to live predominantly around other seniors. Many of these planned communities have clubhouses for fitness and activities, theaters, walking trails and more. The least expensive houses generally start at around $100,000 or $200,000, depending on where they are, and rise up to $1 million. In these communities people own their own homes and function much as they would in a normal neighborhood but most of their neighbors are at roughly the same stage of life they are. Some of the leading over 55 communities include The Villages in central Florida; Sun City — which has many locations including Hilton Head, South Carolina and Huntley, Illinois; and Del Webb Sweetgrass in Richmond, Texas.
Co-housing is different from retirement communities in that people are expected to contribute to the community in the form of gardening, cooking, and generally looking out for one another. Co-housing that is designed for seniors might have medical facilities nearby, shuttles for shopping or the library, community gardens and so forth. Some have special facilities for people who suffer from dementia or other conditions. Retiring near a place where you could receive extra care and support down the road if you need it could be a good long-term option. Co-housing.org offers a list of these communities in states across America.
The Takeaway
Retirement isn’t just a cessation of work; it’s an opportunity to create a new and improved life. Before retiring, you need to understand what will constitute a good retirement income for your needs, as well as the environment you desire, surrounded by activities that really enhance your life. You are the only one who can really define what that environment and activities should be.
Whatever form of retirement beckons, SoFi wants to help you find a way to afford and enjoy it through all the special features of our Checking and Savings account. When you open an online bank account with SoFi, you’ll spend and save in one convenient place, earn a competitive APY, and pay no account fees.
Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall. Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.
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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
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