As a national discussion surrounding a potential retirement crisis continues, Americans could be saving at a higher rate than previously thought – but many also indicate that financing retirement is a source of stress and that they need more assistance.
According to a recent survey by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance among more than 1,000 U.S. households, the average American between the ages of 35 and 64 has more than $327,000 set aside for retirement. However, the survey also illustrated a sharp divide between higher and lower income Americans, as well as Americans above and below the age of 50.
Respondents with more than $100,000 in annual income had an average of more than $670,000 set aside, while respondents earning less than $100,000 a year averaged a little more than $180,000 in retirement savings.
The average respondent pegged their retirement savings need at $909,000, but answers varied greatly by income. Respondents with more than $100,000 in annual income estimated that they would need an average of $1.5 million for their retirement, while those with less than $100,000 in income estimated that they would need $648,000.
Men estimated that they would need a nest egg of nearly $986,000 to retire, while women pegged that amount lower at a little more than $828,000.
Among all respondents, 65 percent reported being very or somewhat confident that they will save enough to retire comfortable, versus 20 percent who were somewhat or very unconfident, and 16 percent who reported being neither confident nor unconfident.
According to the survey, the average American expects to retire at a median age of 64.7 and to begin collecting their Social Security benefits at a median age of 66.8.
More than half the survey, 51 percent, reported contributing the maximum amount allowed by law into their workplace retirement plan.
Among all respondents, an average of 13.3 percent of their annual household income was being set aside for retirement – with respondents earning less than $100,000 per year saving 11 percent of their income, while respondents with more than $100,000 per year in household income saved 16 percent.
When asked about the dollar amounts they contributed annually to workplace retirement plans, respondents earning under $100,000 a year averaged about $8,240, while those with more than $100,000 in annual income reported setting aside $17,710.