4 Signs You Really Can Retire on $250,000 (2024)

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

See Also

How to Invest $250k for Steady Income in 2024Can I Retire On 200k? Is 200k Enough?How Much Cash Can I Make Per Month With A $250,000 Annuity?How to Turn $250k into $1 Million

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

Could you retire comfortably with $250,000?

About 22% of Americans think that’s all they’ll need, based on a GOBankingRates survey conducted last month. Financial experts aren’t so sure.

“If someone made a lot of money to get the max Social Security but only managed to save $250,000, it means they spend a lot of money and would have to severely curtail their lifestyle to live on Social Security and $250,000,” said Carolyn McClanahan, a CFP with Life Planning Partners, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida.

McClanahan noted that even combined with an average Social Security benefit, $250,000 in savings is only likely to produce $2,632 a month over 25 years, when inflation and other factors are considered. That would mean a difficult struggle for many Americans.

“With everyone’s situation being different, it will depend on how much you think you will be spending, your longevity, your goals and whether your savings and any other income sources in retirement will cover it,” said Rita Assaf, vice president of retirement products at Fidelity Investments. “For someone with $250,000 in savings, we would still look to see how much Social Security you are eligible to claim and when. By understanding this, it can help you understand how much you need to dip into your savings.”

Here are four signs below that you might be able to swing retirement with $250,000 saved up — and for a different perspective, check out this story on signs that $250,000 in retirement savings won’t cut it for you.

You Have Other Sources of Income

With $250,000 in savings alone likely to go quickly, having fresh income from elsewhere is huge.

“For people looking to retire soon, key questions to ask yourself include: What will my income sources be — Social Security, pensions, IRAs, etc.?” Assaf said. “What will my strategy be for taking income from my retirement accounts?

“Generally, essential expenses should be covered by guaranteed income sources like Social Security, pensions or annuities. These income sources usually keep up with inflation. Discretionary expenses should be covered by savings or investment income so that if the market changes, you can cut back without hurting your day-to-day.”

In the GOBankingRates survey, 76% of respondents planned to have Social Security as a source of income during retirement. About 27% expect to have some sort of pension, and around 8% are eyeing annuities.

Make your money work for you

Get the latest news on investing, money, and more with our free newsletter.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks!

You're now subscribed to our newsletter. Check your inbox for more details.

Rob Williams, managing director of wealth management for Charles Schwab, said the ability to go back to work if needed could also be important, and not just for supplementing your savings.

“There are emotional reasons you may want to go back to work, as well as financial,” Williams said.

Your Mortgage Is Paid Off

When you’re trying to stretch retirement savings as far as possible, one of the last things you need is a bunch of outstanding debt. Owning your home outright with your mortgage in the rearview mirror is one sign you may be ready to retire with $250,000 in savings.

While you’re at it, you should make sure all outstanding debts are killed off, if you’re looking to retire with a less-than-robust nest egg.

Williams advises not to forget about non-mortgage housing expenses, however. Make sure you’ve accounted for ongoing repairs and other items.

“That’s one of the surprises for people,” Williams said. “Even without a mortgage, that doesn’t mean your housing expenses will go to zero.”

Your Healthcare Coverage Is on Solid Ground

What’s the status of your health coverage, especially if Medicare hasn’t kicked in yet? The unpredictable nature of healthcare makes locking this down essential, especially if your savings are limited.

“A solid retirement plan should also account for potential health care costs,” Assaf said. “According to the Fidelity Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, a single person age 65 in 2023 may need approximately $157,500 saved after tax to cover healthcare expenses in retirement. And this cost doesn’t include long-term care expenses.

“Having a dedicated pool of monies for long-term care expenses may be an important consideration, as it will ultimately protect your retirement income. Healthcare expenses are often the hardest to predict, so if you have only $250,000 in savings, then it’s prudent to make sure you have a solid retirement plan that can be flexible enough to change.”

Your Portfolio Is Balanced and Has the Correct Priorities

Williams listed another key to successfully retiring with limited savings: Making sure your portfolio is built to withstand market downturns and other volatility.

He gave an example of retirees whose early retirement coincides with a market downturn. They’ll sometimes get spooked into selling more assets to reach retirement income goals. Their portfolios may have a hard time bouncing back.

Williams said investors should consider moving some assets into investments likely to weather market disruptions, funding expenses with cash and cash alternatives. And that’s just one batch of advice; financial professionals may be worth consulting for others.

“Make sure you have a portfolio that is positioned to protect and use your wealth, as well as to grow it,” Williams said.

GOBankingRates surveyed 1,037 Americans aged 18 and older from across the country between Sept. 5 and Sept. 7, 2023, asking fifteen different questions: (1) How much money do you currently have saved for retirement?; (2) How much money do you think you’ll need in retirement?; (3) How much do you spend or expect to spend monthly during your retirement?; (4) If you aren’t yet retired, how much do you expect to get from Social Security during your retirement?; (5) How much of your retirement do you plan to fund with Social Security?; (6) At what age did you or do you plan to claim Social Security benefits?; (7) Did you or do you think you will have to move to afford your retirement?; (8) Which of the following proposed Social Security solutions do you think would work best to prevent the trust fund from being depleted?; (9) What sources of income will you have in retirement? (Select all that apply); (10) How confident are you that you will have saved enough to afford retirement?; (11) If you retired early, at what age did you retire?; (12) Are you counting on help from your family (financial, housing, long-term care, etc.) to afford retirement?; (13) Do you think retiring around age 65 is financially possible for most Americans?; (14) What worries you financially about retirement? (Select all that apply); and (15) If you got a stimulus check in the last two years, how much of the money did you save for retirement?. GOBankingRates used PureSpectrum’s survey platform to conduct the poll.