Are You on Track for Retirement? Benchmarks for Invested Assets by Age

When it comes to planning for retirement, even decades away, a common question I hear is: “Have I been saving enough?” 

It’s a fair question, and while there’s no single answer that applies to everyone, financial planners often use general benchmarks, such as benchmarks for invested assets, to help gauge whether someone is on track for a comfortable retirement.

A common framework suggests aiming for the following ranges of invested assets relative to your annual income:

These ratios offer a helpful directional guide — a quick way to see whether your savings and investments are roughly aligned with your long-term retirement goals. They’re based on assumptions like retiring around age 65, maintaining a similar lifestyle in retirement, and saving consistently throughout your working years.

A Few Important Disclaimers (And Why Your Numbers Might Differ)

From Theory to Practice: Benchmarks for Invested Assets

Benchmarks are helpful guidelines for high-level tracking, but as with anything, retirement readiness is highly individual. The “right” invested assets number for you depends on many personal factors, including:

• Your expected lifestyle costs and desired standard of living in retirement

• Social Security or pension benefits, and when you plan to claim them

• The tax mix of your retirement assets, including pre-tax, Roth and taxable assets.

• Whether you receive family support, gifts or inheritance

• Ownership of income-producing assets like rental properties or a business

• Other passive income streams or assets you might sell to fund retirement

For example, someone with a paid-off home and a modest lifestyle may need far less in order to live a satisfying lifestyle than these benchmarks suggest, while another person with high living expenses, dependents, particular medical considerations, or ambitious travel plans may need much more.

So when you compare your actual savings to a benchmark multiple, think of it as a health check, not a final authority. The real value lies in understanding what your financial picture looks like, and adjusting your savings, investment strategy, and planning timeline to align with your vision for the future.

If you’re curious about where you stand or how to close the gap, a personalized financial plan can help translate these broad benchmarks into a clear, achievable roadmap toward the retirement you envision. Schedule a free consultation to make sure your retirement savings are on track.

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📌 Sage Financial Planning LLC is a California RIA providing values-based financial planning and financial advice in San Diego, CA and nationwide via virtual platforms. Sage Financial specializes in serving First Generation Wealth Builders who want to change their financial family trees for the better, as well as values-based clients who want to not only achieve financial security and freedom for themselves, but who want to support their communities in meaningful ways and leave the world better than they found it.

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