Retirement Savings by Age: 2025 Benchmarks & How to Catch Up
The most widely cited benchmarks come from Fidelity Investments, which recommends saving specific multiples of your annual salary by key ages. Here's how to interpret those targets — and realistic strategies if you're behind.
Our retirement calculator projects your savings to retirement age with adjustable returns, contributions, and inflation.
Open Retirement Calculator →The Fidelity Benchmarks: Savings Multiples by Age
Fidelity recommends saving the following multiples of your annual salary by these key ages:
Assumptions: retire at 67, maintain pre-retirement lifestyle, Social Security supplements savings, 15% savings rate, 5.5% average annual return.
The 4% Rule: How Much Do You Need to Retire?
The "4% rule" states you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement, then adjust for inflation annually, with a high probability of not running out of money over 30 years.
This means: Retirement nest egg needed = Annual expenses × 25
- Need $50,000/year in retirement → target $1.25 million
- Need $60,000/year → target $1.5 million
- Need $80,000/year → target $2 million
Social Security reduces how much you need from savings. The average Social Security benefit in 2025 is approximately $1,900/month ($22,800/year). If you'll receive that, your savings only need to cover the gap between SS and your total needs.
2025 Contribution Limits: Maximize These Accounts
What If You're Behind? Catch-Up Strategies
Most Americans are behind on retirement savings — and that's fixable with the right moves:
In Your 30s: Build the Foundation
- Contribute at least enough to get your full employer 401(k) match — that's an immediate 50–100% return
- Open a Roth IRA if your income qualifies (under $161K single / $240K married for full contribution in 2025)
- Aim to increase your savings rate by 1% per year until you hit 15%
In Your 40s: Accelerate
- Maximize 401(k) contributions ($23,500 in 2025)
- Pay off high-interest debt aggressively — credit card interest rates of 20%+ can't be beaten by investment returns
- Consider backdoor Roth IRA if income is too high for direct contribution
In Your 50s and 60s: Catch-Up Mode
- Use catch-up contributions: $31,000 to 401(k), $8,000 to IRA in 2025
- SECURE 2.0 Act (2025): age 60–63 super catch-up allows additional $11,250 to 401(k)
- Consider delaying Social Security — each year you wait past 62 increases your benefit by ~6–8%, and waiting until 70 gives you 76% more than taking at 62
- Downsize your home and invest the proceeds
Enter your current savings, monthly contributions, expected return, and retirement age to see if you'll hit your target — and what adjustments would help most.
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