Retirement Readiness Audit
Assess how prepared you are for retirement with our 10-question audit. Get your retirement readiness score and personalized recommendations to close any gaps.
What's your current age?
Retirement might seem far away, but the decisions you make today determine your future. Studies show that 64% of Americans are not on track for a comfortable retirement—and most don't realize it until it's too late to catch up easily.
This Retirement Readiness Audit evaluates your savings, strategies, and plans to give you a clear picture of where you stand—and what you can do to improve.
🫙 The Retirement Jar Strategy
Think of retirement savings like filling jars for your future self. You need multiple jars for tax diversification: a tax-deferred jar (401k/IRA), a tax-free jar (Roth), and a taxable jar (brokerage).
Why multiple jars? In retirement, you'll want flexibility to withdraw from different accounts strategically to minimize taxes. Having all your money in one "jar" limits your options.
The Power of Starting Early
The math is stunning: If you invest $500/month starting at age 25, you'll have about $1.4 million by 65 (assuming 7% returns). Start at 35? You'll have only $600,000. Start at 45? Just $250,000.
The earlier you start, the more time compound interest works for you. Every year you delay, you need to save significantly more to catch up.
But it's never too late: Even if you're starting late, maximizing your savings rate and making smart decisions can still build meaningful wealth.
Key Retirement Milestones
Age 50: Catch-up contributions become available ($7,500 extra in 401k, $1,000 extra in IRA)
Age 55: Some employer plans allow penalty-free withdrawals if you leave that employer
Age 59.5: Penalty-free withdrawals from retirement accounts begin
Age 62: Earliest you can claim Social Security (but benefits are reduced)
Age 65: Medicare eligibility begins
Age 67: Full Social Security retirement age for most people today
Age 70: Maximum Social Security benefit (delayed retirement credits stop)
Age 73: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) begin
The 4% Rule Explained
The 4% rule is a simple guideline: You can safely withdraw 4% of your retirement savings each year without running out of money over a 30-year retirement.
What does this mean?
- Need $40,000/year? Save $1,000,000
- Need $60,000/year? Save $1,500,000
- Need $100,000/year? Save $2,500,000
Adjust for your situation: If you plan a longer retirement or want extra security, aim for 3.5% or 3%. If you have other income sources (pension, Social Security), you may need less.
Frequently Asked Questions
A common guideline is 10-15% of your income including any employer match. If you started late or want to retire early, aim for 20-25%. Use our retirement calculator to get a personalized number based on your goals.