Favorite graph about saving

May 16, 2017 2:28 PM

It's never too late to start, but you can make life a lot easier by being disciplined now. And for those of you who think you don't need to save that much here's some basic math to explain... if you have $1M saved at retirement you will be living on ~$10k a year with interest rates the way they currently are, but even if they quadruple you'd still be making under the median income.

tl;dr save a little money now, you'll have a lot more later

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notpoor

Monthly savings maaan, this is some powerful stuff

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

6% is poverty. Good planning is 10% per year

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

@OP and when is "retirement" for the purposes of this graph? Men only live until 76.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

66-67 which is the current age you are able to begin collecting the full benefits of social security

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I plan on dying before then

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That's great news! You'll have to save even less!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

What if you've already started saving? (I.e. I've got $40k already, now how much to save?)

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Save more!!! Ideally you want ~$2M in the bank with the hope that interest rates improve to 2%-3%. Then you could live off of $40k-$60k/year

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

And FYI interest rates are closer to 1% right now.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

6% return? Can you tell me where to get that fantastic return rate please?

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

There are plenty of places... a basic index fund would be a good start.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

OP is implying that growth is the same as income, and that you'll be able to cash out during good years; ie: born lucky.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

This obviously is a pretty general graph and isn't perfect at all, but it helps as most people can't even comprehend this basic concept.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Incorrect, this is based on average 6%. Half the time, it will be worth less than 6% (hint, a great time to send extra $)

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

This is true, but don't forget that inflation and taxes will make it hard to have an net real return rate of 6%.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah, I'd like to know where to get a net real return rate of 6%. Under 40 yrs, you might hit the 7% market rate, or not.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You could beat the taxes if you started investing prior to 25 in a Roth. After that, you need to put in more than Roth limits.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

True but the market has had an average return of about 10% (6-7% when adj for inflation) and you can get that through a basic index fund.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

And I thought avg returns were 7% (but maybe I was reading inflation). Also, I doubt those inflation numbers.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

7% is a little high but it's right in range... http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/042415/what-average-annual-return-sp-500.asp

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

"the market was nothing but a continuous 15-year disappointment for an investor who entered in 1965."

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Also, of note - dividend paying stocks are on the way out (elites keeping the cream) - just like stock splits started leaving in the 80s-90s

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

* depending on when you start investing (be born at right time). Get started at the wrong time, and you could get much lower returns.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The market always rebounds... eg anything you '08-'09 you should've essentially made back by now if you left it in the market

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Except that you lost the 6% gains during those years, so no compounding happening - and now you're playing catch up. Same for stagflation

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

in the 70s. Great Depression. Issues in the 80s, etc. 10% overall is fine, but that doesn't help you when you have only 40 yr window

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

One would also hope you would be able to save/invest more as you get older and have a higher income. Also this is a model, results will vary

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

What's super hilarious about this, is that most people don't have this type of income. Paying for college 24-26 == negative income.

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

At 25 you'd need to have $500 in addition to bills, so you'd need to be making $1.5-$2K a month min., depending on location.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I know waitresses making this money.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

So you don't end up with 1M, and instead end up with $500K. Still worth it to try something.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

This. That guy has just been assuming that this applies to each and every specific situation, when clearly it's just a model for reference..

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

I think he's just frustrated at the double edged sword of an education.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

At 25, that means living on $660 or less for min. wage. 54.6% of all households earn less than $40,000 AGI. At 30, that means living on $31K

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You're exaggerating the downside here... most people aren't paying off student loans AND making min wage... usually just one or the other.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

So, you're over 40 then. Gotcha. Check the job placement rates, and job retention rates.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

Gotcha. You could also die by 20. That would make this graph irrelevant. Doesn't change the message trying to be sent here.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

OP doesn't seem to understand the current academic epidemic

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

IKR?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

No, it's that if you have a college education and make minimum wage then you made a bad investment and should have just kept working.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm not arguing that. The problem is, even with a decent paying job, it takes over a decade to pay off.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

I'm 28, I make about 30,000k annually. I can only save 150 a month for retirement and that's because no car payment. I have my bachelor's .

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

OP thinks you're stupid, and it's all your fault. I sympathize, I personally know hundreds (maybe north of a thousand?) of people like you.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I make $20 an hour. I have a BS in environmental science.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Not bad, what're benefits like?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I also have a toddler who is growing like a weed.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

This dude has a degree that is irrelevant to his job, a kid he can't afford, and lives in an expensive market where jobs are scarce.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I have empathy for his situation and know life isn't perfect, but it is his decision that he is in those spots. He took his gamble and lost.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Oh well then let me switch to my degree field where I'll make half of what I currently do, ditch my kid, and move to the magic isle of jobs.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0