Is $1000000 a lot of money?
Vanguard, the investment management company, defines $1 million in investments as high net worth. The average American family now reports a net worth of nearly $1.1 million, according to the new Fed survey. That sounds like a lot of money. But the super-rich skew the average.
Someone who has $1 million in liquid assets, for instance, is usually considered to be a high net worth (HNW) individual. You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth.
In more than 20 U.S. states, a million-dollar nest egg can cover retirees' living expenses for at least 20 years, a new analysis shows. It's worth noting that most Americans are nowhere near having that much money socked away.
Additionally, statistics show that the top 2% of the United States population has a net worth of about $2.4 million. On the other hand, the top 5% wealthiest Americans have a net worth of just over $1 million. Therefore, about 2% of the population possesses enough wealth to meet the current definition of being rich.
According to Schwab's 2023 Modern Wealth Survey, Americans perceive an average net worth of $2.2 million as wealthy. Knight Frank's research indicates that a net worth of $4.4 million is required to be in the top 1% in America, a figure much higher than in countries like Japan, the U.K. and Australia.
Households with a net worth of $1 million or more may be classified as members of the upper class, depending on the definition of class used.
Middle class: Those in the 40th to 60th percentile of household income, ranging from $55,001 to $89,744. Upper middle class: Households in the 60th to 80th percentile, with incomes between $89,745 and $149,131. Upper class: The top 20% of earners, with household incomes of $149,132 or more.
Liquid assets: According to a report by Credit Suisse in 2021, there were approximately 21.4 million adults in the United States with a net worth of at least $1 million, including both liquid and non-liquid assets.
Historically, the stock market has an average annual rate of return between 10–12%. So if your $1 million is invested in good growth stock mutual funds, that means you could potentially live off of $100,000 to $120,000 each year without ever touching your one-million-dollar goose.
A recent analysis determined that a $1 million retirement nest egg may only last about 20 years depending on what state you live in. Based on this, if you retire at age 65 and live until you turn 84, $1 million will probably be enough retirement savings for you.
At what age should you have $1 million dollars?
And there's a very simple mathematical reason for that number. Due to the power of compounding, starting a retirement savings while in one's early 20s, or even younger, can help ensure your assets grow to at least $1 million by age 65.
Americans between 50-54 have an average net worth of $1.13 million; while those in the 55-to-50 age group have an average net worth of $1.44 million, according to USA Today. In comparison, for people in their 20s, the average net worth is $120,896 for those aged 20-24 and $120,185 for those aged 25-29.
| Age Range | Top 10% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|
| 20-24 | $64,855 | $129,709 |
| 25-29 | $142,680 | $303,736 |
| 30-34 | $188,079 | $468,035 |
| 35-39 | $230,234 | $1,048,484 |
Household wealth or net worth is the value of assets owned by every member of the household minus their debt. The terms are used interchangeably in this report. Assets include owned homes, vehicles, financial accounts, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds and mutual funds, and more.
One of the clearest signs of being rich is financial independence. If you can maintain your lifestyle without a regular paycheck, solely from your investments or savings, you're likely in a financially wealthy position.
Some sources define the upper middle class as anyone making a lot of money but haven't crossed the threshold to become truly wealthy. These individuals often have a net worth of at least $500,000 to $2 million.
To feel wealthy, Americans say you need a net worth of at least $2.2 million on average, according to financial services company Charles Schwab's annual Modern Wealth Survey.
- Lower class: less than or equal to $30,000.
- Lower-middle class: $30,001 – $58,020.
- Middle class: $58,021 – $94,000.
- Upper-middle class: $94,001 – $153,000.
- Upper class: greater than $153,000.
“Lower-income” adults have household incomes less than $52,000 and “upper-income” adults have household incomes greater than $156,000.
The lower middle class is often made up of less educated people with lower incomes, such as managers, small business owners, teachers, and secretaries. The upper middle class is often made up of highly educated business and professional people with high incomes, such as doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers, and CEOs.
What is a good household income?
Generally, an income that comfortably covers living expenses, allows for savings, and provides for leisure activities is considered good. In the United States, median household income is around $68,700 according to recent data. However, in cities with higher costs of living, a good salary might be considerably higher.
Updated on Sept. 13 with the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. The national median household income is $74,580, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey data for 2022. It's a 2.3% decline from 2021 estimates of $76,330.
What is the average and median retirement savings? The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940 according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances.
In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings. The majority of retirees, however, have far less saved.
The Challenge Of Insufficient Retirement Savings
A significant portion of retirees — approximately 71% — carry non-mortgage debt averaging $19,888, which includes medical debts and other expenses. Only a small fraction of retirees — around 8% to 10% — have successfully saved $1 million or more.
