Child boomers have a median of $162,000 of their retirement financial savings

For a lot of on this technology, they’ve already began to faucet into their retirement financial savings, whereas others nonetheless have a couple of extra working years to develop their nest egg. 

How a lot do child boomers have saved for retirement? 

A current report by the TransAmerica Center for Retirement studies discovered that members of this technology have a median of $162,000 throughout all of their retirement financial savings accounts. That’s in comparison with $33,000 for Gen Zers, $87,000 for Gen Xers, and $50,000 for Millennials. The estimated median financial savings amongst all employees is $67,000. 

Child boomers additionally began saving for retirement later than every other technology, on common. The median age for boomers at the beginning of their retirement saving journey was 35. That is due, partially, to the shift away from conventional pension plans and rise of 401(okay) plans in the midst of many boomers’ skilled careers. 

Challenges boomers face in saving for retirement 

Child boomer savers have needed to navigate a shifting financial panorama that has made it tougher to develop their retirement financial savings. 

“Obstacles child boomers have confronted in saving for retirement embody extraordinarily low rates of interest on mounted revenue investments, the dot com crash, the actual property/ monetary disaster, the pandemic, and extra just lately 40-year excessive inflation,” says David Rosenstrock, director at Wharton Wealth Planning. “As well as, rising well being care prices, growing life expectancy, caring for ageing dad and mom, the potential for lowered social safety advantages (sooner or later), and labor pressure automation are all obstacles to saving.” 

Elevated life expectancy

A rise of their life expectancy has made it tougher for boomers to find out how much to save. When the primary boomers had been born, the typical life expectancy was round 63 years outdated. At this time, boomers can anticipate to reside into their 80s. 

“How lengthy you reside and the way a lot you want to spend on out-of-pocket healthcare bills and long-term care are huge elements for determining how a lot you will have. Healthcare prices pose one of the crucial severe dangers to retirement safety, so it’s necessary to grasp find out how to plan for this main expense and navigate the system,” says Rosenstrock. 

Uncertainty round social safety advantages 

In November 2022, the average monthly profit for retired employees was simply over $1,600, however that profit could possibly be diminished within the coming years. Based on the 2022 Social Security Trustees report, retirees will solely obtain 77% of their full profit beginning in 2034 with out further funding to the social safety program. Near half of the infant boomers surveyed (46%) are extra seemingly than youthful generations to concern reductions in or elimination of Social Safety sooner or later.

The Nice Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic 

Many savers have confronted the monetary ramifications of each the 2007 recession and the early aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, however for boomers who’re already of their retirement years or near it, the influence could be extra extreme. Many savers dipped into their retirement financial savings to remain afloat. Through the third quarter, the average 401(k) balance at Constancy dropped a median of 23% from a 12 months in the past, based on recent Fidelity Investments research, which handles about 35 million retirement accounts. IRA balances dropped practically 25% year-over-year and 403(b) account holdings—retirement plans sometimes utilized by nonprofits—had been down 21%. 

3 Methods child boomers can enhance their retirement financial savings  

For Boomers who want to enhance their retirement financial savings, it’s not too late. Nonetheless, it’s necessary to be strategic in regards to the cash strikes you’re making so near your golden years. 

1. Reap the benefits of catch-up contributions. For savers who’re over the age of fifty, the IRS permits them to make further contributions to their retirement savings accounts. For 2023, the contribution restrict is $6,500 (plus the extra $1,000 catch-up contribution). In case you haven’t saved as a lot as you want to retire comfortably, these further contributions can be sure that you save as a lot as doable in your ultimate working years in a tax-advantaged means. 
2. Delay taking social safety. Tapping into your social safety advantages as quickly as you hit age 62 could be tempting, however it’s extra useful to carry off in the event you can. “The earliest age you may join Social Safety is age 62, however in the event you file earlier than full retirement age (as outlined by the IRS), you’ll be taking a look at a lowered profit of roughly 75% of the quantity you’re eligible for,” says Rosenstrock. “Full retirement age depends upon your 12 months of delivery. You may also delay your submitting previous full retirement age. For every year you delay your profit, up till age 70, your profit will develop 8% enabling you to obtain a most of as much as roughly 132% of your common profit quantity.”
3. Take into account working previous retirement age. If the sound of leaving the workforce altogether isn’t interesting to you, you would possibly think about working in some capability even after you’re reached retirement age. “Working previous the normal retirement age, both half or full time, is a good way to stretch and complement retirement revenue,” says Rosenstrock. “Delaying retirement can have a major influence on retirement funds by giving your present retirement financial savings extra time to develop and shortening the interval of retirement you will have to pay for.”

The takeaway 

Many boomers are already dwelling off of their retirement financial savings, however it’s not too late to spice up your financial savings and provides your self extra of a monetary cushion that can maintain you for the remainder of your 12 months. By taking advantage of your tax-advantaged financial savings accounts, managing your social safety advantages properly, and in search of methods so as to add to your revenue, you may just be sure you have what you want to retire comfortably.