Age 25 is the starting point for most age-based retirement savings guidelines, but you may not want to wait until then to start investing for the future.
If you’re 25, you’re probably an entry-level worker and may be carrying a hefty amount of student loan debt. And inflation may have taken a toll on your budget. So, hitting a savings goal by this age can be challenging and prioritizing future savings can be another significant hurdle. But don’t panic. There are plenty of ways to boost your savings today and as you move further up in your career. The good thing is time is on your side.
How much money should I have saved by 25?
Experts recommend saving 15% of your income starting at age 25 to give you a good chance of maintaining your preretirement lifestyle in retirement. A recent study by the Milken Institute says that age 25 is actually the latest Americans should start to save for the future to ensure your money has enough time to compound. Any savings you’ve accumulated before the age of 25 could mean you’re ahead of the game then.
From age 25 on, the 15% savings rule can be a helpful guideline to keep you saving enough. If you’re earning near the median weekly earnings for someone between the ages of 25 and 30 — $1,040, or $54,080 a year ($1,040 X 52 approximate weeks in a year) — this would put your recommended savings at $8,112 a year.
Saving early and regularly is key to saving enough for retirement. More than a quarter (27%) of those surveyed in Finder’s recent Consumer Confidence Index say they’re underprepared for retirement and a further 15% say they’ll never be able to retire.
The 15% retirement savings guideline is just a rule of thumb. You’ll need to consider a number of variables to get a savings rate that’s more precise for your goals. Start by calculating your retirement number to see how much you need to save over time to get there.
4 ways to start saving money in your 20s
Saving money in your 20s can seem daunting, considering you’re in the early stages of your career and may be carrying significant student loan debt. But 25 is the starting age many experts use when developing guidelines to determine how much money you should have saved for retirement. So now’s when you should start to prioritize saving for retirement, and there are many ways you can improve your savings right now.
1. Fund your 401(k)
A primary savings vehicle for many Americans is the 401(k), and if your employer offers one, you should strongly consider taking advantage of it. Contributions to a traditional 401(k) are taken from your paycheck before federal and state income taxes are withheld. This means contributions can lower your taxable income for the tax year in which you contributed.
And many employers match 401(k) contributions up to a certain limit. That’s the closest thing to “free money” you’ll probably ever see.
The average 401(k) account balance for someone between the ages of 25 and 34 is $37,211, according to our data. At age 25, you can expect to come in short of this average.
But don’t panic if your company doesn’t offer a 401(k) plan. You can open a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA through most financial institutions. These investment vehicles offer many of the same tax benefits as traditional 401(k)s and Roth 401(k)s, but they’re more widely accessible. IRAs also allow you to invest in virtually the entire securities world as opposed to a 401(k), which limits you to a fund menu determined by the plan sponsor, usually mutual funds.
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2. Start investing through a taxable brokerage account
Another way to boost your savings is by investing in securities like stocks and bonds. If you’re 25, you benefit from having a long time horizon and may be able to take on more risk, and potentially more reward, than those in older age groups.
For those willing to take on more risk, many experts recommend a portfolio heavily weighted in stocks. If you want to avoid the complexity of picking your stocks, consider investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These are professionally managed baskets of stocks and other assets that offer instant diversification. An ETF may invest in a variety of stocks in specific sectors like tech and healthcare, while index funds aim to match the return of stock market indexes like the S&P 500.
If you want a completely hands-off investing experience, you can also opt for a robo-advisor. After answering a short questionnaire online, a robo-advisor creates and manages a personalized portfolio for you.
One way to maximize your savings is by examining your budget and finding non-essential expenses you may want to cut out. Maybe you’re paying too much for subscription services when you can search for cheaper or free alternatives. You can also get rid of the one you use the least. Or you can spend less on dining out. Whatever money you manage to hold onto afterward can be put to good use in a tax-advantaged retirement account. You should also build an emergency fund for unforeseen expenses like home and car repairs.
4. Don’t spend your raise, save it
As you move up in your career, you’ll likely receive raises. And while it may be tempting to think of this as free money to splurge, investing or saving it can go a long way. The average salary increased 4.4% in 2023, according to the economic think tank The Conference Board. So, someone making $40,000 would see a salary increase of $1,760.
You can grow that extra cash even more by putting it in a high-yield savings account, a taxable brokerage account or a tax-advantaged retirement plan like an IRA. To put the brokerage account into perspective, the S&P 500 returns, on average, an annual rate of 10%.
Bottom line
Saving money can be a difficult task, especially as you’re in the early stages of your career. But a disciplined and strategic approach can go a long way as you work to set aside money for goals, retirement and the unexpected.
Frequently asked questions
A "good" amount of savings would vary based on your needs and desired lifestyle. But if you've saved $100,000 by age 25, you may be well on your way to retiring as a millionaire.
A "good" amount of savings varies from person to person. But if you've saved $50,000 by age 25, you may be on track to retire with more than a million dollars.
Javier Simon is a freelance finance writer at Finder and a certified educator in personal finance (CEPF).
He’s featured on NerdWallet, Bankrate, Yahoo Finance and Fox Business, where he’s shared his expertise on personal finance topics, such as investing, retirement planning, taxes, budgeting and savings.
He has also covered breaking news, such as student loan forgiveness initiatives, the housing market and inflation’s impact on consumers’ wallets.
His passion is turning complex financial concepts into actionable content that can help people improve their financial lives.
Javier holds a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism from SUNY Plattsburgh. See full bio
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