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Fewer Than Half of Americans Are on Track for Retirement

This article appeared in SoFi's On the Money newsletter. Not getting it? Sign up here.

Retirement readiness is a murky concept.

Between the dire predictions about Social Security, the headlines about “magic” retirement savings numbers, and the various gauges and rules of thumb, it can be hard to make sense of it all. And for many people, it’s difficult enough just finding surplus income to tuck away.

So let’s start with a basic premise underlying a new study by Vanguard: Most of us probably want to maintain our current lifestyle in retirement. In other words, we want to have the resources to cover roughly the same expenses even when we’ve stopped working.

And if we assume this, only 42% of Americans are on track to have enough resources, Vanguard found. The other 58% will fall short, with those earning a typical salary (a median per-capita income of $51,000) having to cut their spending by an estimated $5,000 a year, or 13%, during their retirement.

Vanguard’s Retirement Readiness Model factored in Social Security payments, mortality rates, retirement saving rates, historical spending patterns, market return forecasts, and other asset allocation data across various demographic groups. And it revealed several other interesting findings:

•  Access to a 401(k) makes a big difference: Workers with access to a workplace retirement plan are almost twice as likely to be on track for “readiness” — 54% of workers with access are on track, compared with 28% of those without. (If every worker in the U.S. had access, 61% would be on track.)

•  The outlook is brighter for younger people: Compared with baby boomers and Gen X, millennials and Gen Z are more likely to be on track, thanks to stronger 401(k) adoption and plan features like auto-enrollment. The percentages are 47% for Gen Z, 42% for Millennials, 41% for Gen X, and 40% for boomers.

•  Debt is an obstacle: The typical millennial age 35-38 has about $12,000 in nonhousing debt (including credit cards, student loans, auto loans), about double what boomers carried at the same age. That knocks nearly 1 in 10 millennials off the path to retirement readiness.

•  Home equity could help many baby boomers: Many low- to middle-income baby boomers nearing retirement won’t be able to maintain their lifestyle without tapping into their home equity to close the gap. (Downsizing their home or selling and becoming renters, for instance.) However, among younger generations, property prices and mortgage rates can often put homeownership out of reach.

So what?

There’s a lot of doom and gloom surrounding retirement readiness, but the Vanguard analysis has some bright spots. For one, an annual shortfall of $5,000 for the typical earner could be worse. “Whether such a reduction would constitute a significant lifestyle change depends on individual needs and expectations,” the Vanguard researchers note.

Plus, the better outlook for young people would suggest society at large is getting better at retirement security. And the younger you are, the more time you have to get on track, if you’re not already.

There’s no doubt it can be hard to carve out surplus income, especially given the rising cost of living, a fragile job market, student debt, and other obligations. But the sooner you start and the more consistently you put money away, the better off you’ll be — even if you have to begin with a small contribution.

And perhaps most importantly, if your job doesn’t offer a 401(k) or similar plan, save on your own. You can use an IRA or traditional brokerage account (which can be roboadvised, if you’d like to be hands off.) You can even set up a 401(k)-like direct deposit. Research shows that people are 15 times more likely to save for their retirement if they have money deducted from their paychecks.

Related Reading

Financial Experts Say There’s No Such Thing as a Single ‘Magic’ Retirement Number (Fortune via MSN)

2024 Retirement Readiness Survey: How Americans Are Preparing (SoFi)

10 Things Retirees Should Stop Spending On Now (AARP)


Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

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Extra Credit: 5-Question Quiz of the Week

Test your knowledge of topics covered in the past week’s newsletters. Can you get a perfect score?

 


Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

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An Ambitious Budget May Be Better Than a Realistic One

This article appeared in SoFi's On the Money newsletter. Not getting it? Sign up here.

How many times have you read a caution about being realistic when setting a budget? The conventional wisdom is that you’ll never stick to a budget that’s too tight, so don’t overshoot.

A recent academic study throws that theory out the window. If you’re trying to cut back on your day-to-day expenses, you’re actually better off setting an ambitious target you may not meet, the study found.

The research — which relied on more than 350 million transactions from 70,000 users of a U.K. personal finance app — found that people who set an ambitious budget spent 21.9% less than when they didn’t budget at all. And the results held, even six months after the budgets were set.

“You actually don’t want people to make accurate budgets,” study co-author Ray Charles Howard, a professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, said in a Darden newsletter last year. “You want them to set optimistically low budgets, because the lower the budget, the stricter that reference point becomes, and the more likely they are to reduce their spending, even though they’re almost certainly going to spend more money than they budgeted.”

Howard, who examined three spending categories — dining and drinking, groceries, and fuel — recommends that you aim to spend 20% to 25% less than you’re currently spending.

Let’s say someone typically spends $300 a month on groceries. Instead of setting a realistic budget of $280, they might set an ambitious budget of $240. Even if they end up spending $260, they’ve still cut back — and beat the realistic budget.

So what? When money is tight, look to cut back in areas where you’ve got some wiggle room. Aiming for a 20% to 25% reduction might sound high, but it’s worth experimenting with your targets. See which ones get you the best results. (SoFi members can use the free Relay tool to set targets and track spending right in the app.)

Maybe you want to put a sticky note somewhere obvious reminding you to try to get your $10 weekday lunch down to under $8. Even if you don’t always hit your goal, if you’re spending less, that’s progress. And as long as it’s motivating rather than discouraging, you’re building momentum.

Related Reading

•   Americans Rebel Against Inflation and Overconsumption with ‘No Buy’ Challenges in 2025 (Fortune)

•   When It Comes to Budgeting, What Do You Tell Yourself? (SoFi)

•   How to Make a Budget in 5 Steps (SoFi)


Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

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