Millions of Americans nearing retirement age with no savings (2024)

FAQs

What percent of Americans retire with no savings? ›

20% of adults ages 50+ have no retirement savings, 61% worry they won't have enough at retirement, as per new AARP survey. Plus six tips to start saving now.

Less than half of respondents in the Schroders survey — 44% — said they've saved enough for retirement; 32% said they don't have enough saved; and 24% are unsure. Experts say there are a couple of ways people can try to address those uncertainties.

You're not alone if your retirement account balances are far from the $1 million mark. While many people may aim for that goal, most don't reach it. Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) data estimates that just 3.2% of Americans have $1 million or more in their retirement accounts.

Saving is hard. Few jobs offer traditional pensions anymore. A 401(k) puts the burden of financial management largely on the employee. And Social Security is a labyrinth of complex regulations and difficult calculations, administered by a seemingly indifferent bureaucracy.

On average, people of color in the U.S. have less money saved for retirement than their White counterparts. More than half of Black and Latinx households have no retirement savings, while only a third of White households lack savings.

Individuals who have not saved for retirement and who still own homes can turn to their homes as a source of income. For some, this could mean renting a portion of their space as a separate apartment. Another option is to take a reverse mortgage on a home, although doing so can be costly and complicated.

14% of Americans Have $100,000 Saved for Retirement

Most Americans are not saving enough for retirement. According to the survey, only 14% of Americans have $100,000 or more saved in their retirement accounts. In fact, about 78% of Americans have $50,000 or less saved for retirement.

There are estimated to be a little over 8 million households in the US with a net worth of $3 million or more.

Our survey revealed that over 66% of Americans report living paycheck to paycheck. A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics weekly earnings report indicated a 3.5% year-over-year increase in median weekly earnings for the first quarter of 2024.

What is the average nest egg at retirement? ›

The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940, according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. The median retirement savings for all families is $87,000.

Nothing. That's not much to fall back on in retirement. As many as 28% of Americans have nothing saved for their retirement, 39% aren't contributing to a retirement fund and another 30% don't think they'll ever be able to retire. That's according to a new GoBankingRates survey.

A Millionaire's Best Friend

One awesome thing that you can take advantage of is compound interest. It may sound like an intimidating term, but it really isn't once you know what it means. Here's a little secret: compound interest is a millionaire's best friend. It's really free money.

But many have no savings at all.

27% of U.S. adults have no emergency savings, as of May 2024 polling — the highest percentage since 2020.

The average American has $65,100 in savings — excluding retirement assets — according to Northwestern Mutual's 2023 Planning & Progress Study. That's a 5% increase over the $62,000 reported in 2022.

In 2022, almost half of American households had no savings in retirement accounts, according to the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF). These accounts include individual retirement accounts; Keogh accounts; certain employer-sponsored accounts, such as 401(k), 403(b), thrift savings accounts; and pensions.