The guideline
- By 30: 1× your salary
- By 40: 3×
- By 50: 6×
- By 60: 8×
- By 67: 10×
If you are behind
Start with the easiest wins: get the full employer match, add catch-up contributions after 50, and raise your savings rate by 1% each year. Working a few years longer or delaying Social Security also makes a large difference. The full planner shows which of these would close your gap.
Common questions
How much should I have saved by 40?
A common guideline is about 3 times your salary by 40, 6 times by 50, and 8 times by 60.
What if I am behind?
Get your full employer match, use catch-up contributions after 50, raise your savings rate each year, and consider working a little longer or delaying Social Security.
Official 2026 figures from: IRS: 2026 401(k) and IRA limits (IR-2025-111) · IRS: Catch-up contributions · IRS: Required minimum distributions · IRS: Publication 590-B (Uniform Lifetime Table) · IRS: Rev. Proc. 2025-19 (2026 HSA limits) · SSA: 2026 COLA fact sheet · CMS: 2026 Medicare premiums and deductibles · SSA: Cost-of-living adjustment history · BEA: Regional Price Parities by state (2024 data)