Are You Falling Behind the Wealth Curve? The Shocking Ages You Should Hit 6 Figures, Buy a Home, and Secure Your Retirement—According to New Data
Ever wonder if there’s some secret financial timeline we’re all supposed to follow? Like, should landing that dream job really happen before your 30s—or is buying a first home before 35 just a pipe dream in today’s economy? Honestly, juggling sky-high living costs and the unpredictable market has most of us scratching our heads—and wallets. With a whopping 77% of Americans saying they’re not quite financially secure yet, it’s clear the old milestones might need a serious reboot. New research digs into how folks today actually navigate those money markers—revealing not only when people think they “should” hit these milestones but also how many wish they’d started saving way sooner. So, what’s the reality behind those age-old expectations? Let’s unpack the truth about when and how we’re really climbing the financial ladder. LEARN MORE
There’s no age limit when it comes to achieving significant financial milestones, but many people envision checking them off their list by a certain point in their lives.
Unfortunately, these days, amid high costs of living and economic uncertainty, most U.S. adults fall short of wealth-building goals: 77% say they aren’t completely financially secure, according to Bankrate’s Financial Freedom survey.
How old should you really be to land that dream job, start saving for retirement, earn six figures or buy your first home?
New research from Empower set out to answer those questions and explore how Americans navigate money milestones today.
Although just 17% believe people should hit financial milestones by a specific age, 44% are glad they achieved them when they did, per the report.
On average, Americans think you should start saving for retirement at 27, land your dream job at 29, buy your first home at 30 and earn six figures by 35, according to the research. Respondents also reported hoping to be debt-free at 41 and to retire at 58.
About half of Americans (45%) wish they’d saved money earlier and with more consistency in order to prepare for life’s big changes, the study found.
Related: Make Your Money Manage Itself — How to Automate Your Personal Finances and Keep Your Goals on Track
After planning for retirement and becoming a homeowner, Americans see several life events as significant wealth-building opportunities: investing in stocks (34%), investing in education (26%), changing career paths (21%), getting married (19%) and starting a business (19%).
Nearly one-third of respondents said they realized the value of having a financial plan or working with a financial planner after meeting a life milestone.
“For all ages, it’s important to talk to an advisor who can help create a tailored path specific to your financial goals and set you up for a realistic retirement lifestyle,” Stacey Black, lead financial educator at Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU), told Entrepreneur last year.
There’s no age limit when it comes to achieving significant financial milestones, but many people envision checking them off their list by a certain point in their lives.
Unfortunately, these days, amid high costs of living and economic uncertainty, most U.S. adults fall short of wealth-building goals: 77% say they aren’t completely financially secure, according to Bankrate’s Financial Freedom survey.
How old should you really be to land that dream job, start saving for retirement, earn six figures or buy your first home?
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