In 2022, the average net worth for a 50 year old in America is around $150,000. But the average net worth for an above average 50 year old is around around $1,250,000. That's right. The above average 50 year old is a millionaire.
The above average 50 year is defined as someone who works hard, savings at least 20% of their money each year, invests, and cares about their personal finances. The above average 50 year old is a subscriber of free personal finance newsletters like the one I've been writing since 2009.
At 50 years old, you're only 10-15 years away from traditional retirement. Therefore, a 50 year old who wishes to retire by 65 needs to start saving and investing aggressively. This means maxing out all tax-advantaged retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, etc) and contributing at least 20% to taxable brokerage accounts and building a real estate portfolio.
Having an average net worth for a 50 year old of only $150,000 is not a lot. Even if you receive Social Security benefits, the average Social Security benefit is only around $1,200 a month. If a the average 50 year old only has a an average net worth of less than $200,000, hopefully, they will get a life long pension.
According to CNN Money 2021, the average net worth for the following ages are: $9,000 for ages 25-34, $52,000 for ages 35-44, $100,000 for ages 45-54, $180,000 for ages 55-64, and $232,000+ for 65+.
Seems low, but that's because the age range is large and most Americans aren't fiscally responsible with an average savings rate of only around 6% since the last financial crisis in 2008.
The Above Average 50 Year Old
Although the average net worth for a 50 year old is only around $150,000, you don't have to be average. I want you to be above average, especially if you're reading Financial Samurai.
The above average 50 year old is defined as:
1) Someone who went to college and believes grades and a good work ethic do matter. Alternatively, someone who started working right after high school.
2) Does not irrationally spend more than they make.
3) Saves for the future because they realize at some point they no longer are willing or able to work.
4) Takes responsibility for their own actions when things go wrong and learns from the situation to make things better.
5) Takes action by leveraging free tools on the internet to track their net worth, minimize investment fees, manage their budget, and stay on top of their finances in general. Once you know where all your money is, it becomes much easier to optimize your wealth and make it grow.
6) Welcomes constructive criticism and is not overly sensitive from friends, loved ones, and strangers in order to keep improving. Keeping an open mind is critical.
7) Has a healthy amount of self-esteem to be able to lead change and believe in themselves.
8) Enjoys empowering themselves through learning, whether it be through books, personal finance blogs, magazines, seminars, continuing education and so forth.
9) Has little-to-no student loan debt due to scholarships, part-time work, or help from their parents. Our parents have saved and invested through the largest bull market in history. It's understandable that parents want to help their children out.
Now that we have a rough definition of what “above average” means, we can take a look at the tables I've constructed based on the tens of thousands of past comments by you and posts I've written to highlight the average net worth of the above average person.
The Above Average Net Worth For A 50 Year Old Calculated
First, we must highlight what the average tax-deferred retirement savings plan is for those in America. We'll focus on the simple 401K system we have here where one can contribute a maximum of $19,500 of their pre-tax income every year in 2021. The maximum contribution amount tends to go up about $500 every two or three years.
This chart can be used as a rough estimate for those with the RRSP plan in Canada, and retirement plans in Europe and Australia as well. In fact, any country that has any sort of tax-deferred retirement plan and social safety net program for retirement that has a GDP/capita of $30,000 or more can use the below chart as an aspirational guide. Remember, we are talking about the “above average person.”
401k Savings Potential Guide By 50 Years Old
The assumption here is that the above average person is able to start maxing out their tax-deferred retirement plan every year after the second full year of work, and continue on without fail until 65. The low and high end account for a conservative 0% return to a more historical 7% – 8% constant rate of return. Of course you can lose money and make much more if you are good and lucky.
Given the 401k maximum contribution limits have increased over time, the three columns from left to right can also be used as guidance for older savers over 45 years old, middle aged savers between 30 – 45, and younger savers under 30 who get to max out at $18,000 a year at the minimum for the majority of their careers.
For example, when I started contributing to my 401k in 1999, the maximum contribution limit was only $10,000. As a 43 year old, I'll focus on the Mid End column as a guidance.
This chart does not take into consideration any after-tax savings post 401K contribution or 401k company matching either to remain conservative. It's always good to end up with too much money than too little.
Financial Samurai Post-Tax Savings Guide
The above chart assumes on the low end that one saves about $5,000 a year in after-tax income and around $10,000-$15,000 a year in after-tax income on the high-end after maxing out their tax-deferred retirement vehicle.
I've tried to keep things as simple as possible, assuming no inflation and no investment returns. I also believe saving $5,000-$15,000 a year in after-tax income is very realistic for the above average person, and probably very easy for many who earn more than $85,000 per person. Finally, the chart should show you the power of consistency.
The Importance Of Real Estate
A 2020 study showed that the average net worth of a homeowner is roughly $200,000, or 40X greater than the average renter's net worth of $5,000.
We can debate the merits of this study (done by a real estate association of course) all day long (demographic sampling, housing price changes, etc), but the point is, “above average” people generally all own homes and are wealthier, be it 2X wealthier or 40X wealthier than the average renter.
The return on rent is always -100%. You get a place to live and that's that. There is never a positive return on an asset after a month, or 30 years of renting. A renter cannot pass on her paid off house to her kids or grandchildren. There is no asset accumulation at all. There is a reason why some 97% of millionaires are property owners.
The value of real estate varies across all the land and the world. It is very hard to make an assumption of what should be inputted as a result. According to the US Census bureau, the median home price in America is ~$370,000 in 2021.
You can't get anything livable in San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, and maybe even Washington DC and Boston for $340,000. But, you sure can in the MidWest for $250,000.
Value is one of the main reasons why I'm aggressively investing in the heartland of America real estate. The demographic shift towards lower-cost cities around the country is strong due to the work from home trend.
The best way I've found to invest in heartland or 18-hour city real estate is through real estate crowdfunding.
My favorite real estate crowdfunding platforms are:
Fundrise: A way for accredited and non-accredited investors to diversify into real estate through private eREITs. Fundrise has been around since 2012 and has consistently generated steady returns, no matter what the stock market is doing. For most people, investing in a diversified fund is the easiest way to gain exposure.
CrowdStreet: A way for accredited investors to invest in individual real estate opportunities mostly in 18-hour cities. 18-hour cities are secondary cities with lower valuations, higher rental yields. These deals potentially have potentially higher growth due to job growth and demographic trends.
I've personally invested $810,000 in real estate crowdfunding since 2016 to diversify my investments. It's nice to earn income 100% passively as I spend more time taking care of my children. My real estate income generates roughly $150,000 a year.
Home Equity Accumulation Guide By 50
Let's construct an equity value chart of something based on a range of $250,000-$500,000. One assumption is that upon retirement, you have your house paid off. You can attribute this amount into your net worth.
I assume that the above average person buys a $250,000-$500,000 piece of property at 27. By the time they turn 28, they will have owned the property for 1 year and have paid down $3,500-$7,500 in principal on a $250,000-$400,000 loan.
I conservatively assume a $250,000 no money down loan for the low end house, even though after 5 years of working, the low-end above average person should have around $25,000-$30,000 saved up in cash based on the after-tax savings charts above.
By the time a 27 year old pays off his or her mortgage in 30 years, s/he will be 57 years old with a place to live rent from for the rest of his/her life. The above average 50 year old will have paid of his or her house in their 50s.
The true value of the property is the rent saved for the remainder of the owner's life. It can be calculated as the present value of those future rental payments, or simply the market value of the home. I assume zero price appreciation on the home to keep things conservative and no extra payments to accelerate the payoff either.
Home prices have historically returned just a bit above inflation every year e.g. 2-3%. But given the above average person puts down about 20%, the 2-3% returns suddenly turns into a 10%-15% cash-on-cash per year.
10-15% compares favorably to the average S&P 500 return of roughly 8%. Add on the tax benefits for mortgage interest deduction and owning a home through a mortgage becomes very beneficial for higher income earners.
The X Factor For A 50 Year Old
So far, we've touched upon pre-tax savings, after-tax savings, investment returns of 0 for those savings to remain conservative, and real estate. You need to spend less than you earn for that inevitable day you no longer have an income. You also need to live somewhere, hence, you should own your property if you know you will be there for much longer than 5-10 years.
There's something missing in all of this, and that something is what I call the X Factor.
Above average people seem to always be thinking of new ways to build wealth. There is an optimism about them that no matter what happens, they can always find ways to make more money.
It's hard to quantify what that X Factor is for the average above average 50 year old, but it's there somehow through music, writing, athletics, communication, entrepreneurship, side hustling, and so much more.
My X Factor is starting Financial Samurai at 32 years old. Now this site generates a healthy amount of supplemental retirement income to go along with my investment income.
The great thing about savings and real estate is that the process is highly automatic. If you implement the plan and wake up 10 years later, you will inevitably be worth much more provided you keep your job and your home.
Given savings and building equity in your home over the next several decades is largely automatic, the X Factor comes out because you have so much more free time to do something else!
The Above Average Net Worth For A 50 Year Old
I have gone ahead and averaged the averages for pre-tax savings, post-tax savings, and real estate equity progress in the spreadsheet below. The pre and post tax savings can be invested however you see fit and is a topic of another post.
Another thing to note is taxation, given pre-tax savings have to eventually be withdrawn and taxed. Again, these are rough estimates to give you an idea of the average net worth of the above average person.
There you have it! Based on my assumptions above, the average net worth of the above average 50 year old is around $1,240,250. By the time you are 65, his/her net worth should climb to around $2,871,500.
The key is to stay disciplined with your savings and investing routine. With a proper asset or net worth allocation, you'll be amazed at how far your net worth will grow over time.
There is NO REWIND button in life. With a continued low interest rate environment, it's more important than ever to save until it hurts each month. You won't regret it when you no longer want to work!
Related: The Average Net Worth For A 60 Year Old
Achieve Financial Freedom Through Real Estate
Real estate is my favorite way to achieving financial freedom because it is a tangible asset that is less volatile, provides utility, and generates income. In an inflationary environment we are in now, real estate benefits as rents and property prices go higher.
Take a look at my two favorite real estate crowdfunding platforms, where I have invested $810,000 to diversify my holdings and earn more passive income. Both are free to sign up and explore.
Fundrise: A way for accredited and non-accredited investors to diversify into real estate through private eFunds. Fundrise has been around since 2012 and has consistently generated steady returns, no matter what the stock market is doing. For most people, investing in a diversified eREIT is the way to go.Â
CrowdStreet: A way for accredited investors to invest in individual real estate opportunities mostly in 18-hour cities. 18-hour cities are secondary cities with lower valuations, higher rental yields, and potentially higher growth due to job growth and demographic trends. If you have a lot more capital, you can build you own diversified real estate portfolio.Â
As you inch closer to retirement, you want to own real assets that produce income. This is the best way to go as you age. Unlike stocks, real estate doesn't lose a lot of its value over night with one earnings miss!
Stay On Top Of Your Finances
Now that you know the average net worth of a 50 year old is only about $150,000, it's time to get motivated to build more wealth. Again, the above average 50 year old has closer to $1,250,000 in net worth.
The best way to build wealth is to get a handle on your finances by signing up with Personal Capital. They are a free online platform which aggregates all your financial accounts on their Dashboard so you can see where you can optimize.
Before Personal Capital, I had to log into eight different systems to track 28 different accounts to track my finances. Now, I can just log into Personal Capital to see how my stock accounts are doing. I can also track my net worth easily.
One of their best tools is the 401K Fee Analyzer which has helped me save over $1,700 in annual portfolio fees I had no idea I was paying. You just click on the Investment Tab and run your portfolio through their fee analyzer.
They've also come out with their incredible Retirement Planning Calculator. It uses your linked accounts to run a Monte Carlo simulation to figure out your financial future. You can input various income and expense variables to see the outcomes. Definitely check to see how your finances are shaping up as it's free.
About the Author
Sam worked in investing banking for 13 years at GS and CS. He received his undergraduate degree in Economics from The College of William & Mary and got his MBA from UC Berkeley. In 2012, Sam was able to retire at the age of 34 largely due to his investments that now generate roughly $300,000 a year in passive income boosted by his investments in real estate crowdfunding.
Financial Samurai was started in 2009. It is one of the most trusted personal finance sites on the web with over 1.2 million pageviews a month. Sign up for his free newsletter here for more nuanced personal finance content. The Average Net Worth For A 50 Year Old is a FS original post.