How Much Should I Invest If I Make $50K a Year? (2024)

Let’s say you want to retire at age 65 with $1 million in retirement money. Achievable? Sure, if you have a plan. But first, understand the reality of it all and the steps you must take.

No matter how much you earn, the amount you invest each year needs to be based on goals. Your investment goals provide you with an objective and motivate you to stick with a doable investing plan. They should also be in line with how much you can afford to invest. Know that with an income of $50,000, the constraints of living expenses may at first keep you from investing as much as you would like. The key, though, is to keep your eye on the ball of your investment strategies. As your income goes up, so can your savings.

By following four key financial planning steps, you can decide how much to invest starting out and devise a plan for gradual increases. To reduce these concepts to everyday terms, this particular case uses the example of a 30-year-old individual earning $50,000 per year with an expected increase in income of 4% annually who wants to have $1 million in retirement funds at age 65.

Key Takeaways

  • Investing a portion of your income is a smart, doable way to grow your wealth to pay for future needs and wants.
  • What to invest in and how much depends on your income, age, risk tolerance, and investment goals.
  • For a 30-year-old making $50,000 a year with a $1 million retirement savings goal, putting away $500 a month starting out should get them to their goal, assuming a 6.5% average annual return.

Set Your Goals

At age 30, you likely have several goals: buying a house, having children, providing those children with a college education, and retiring with plenty of money on your own time schedule.

Granted, all this is a lot to accomplish on a $50,000 income. However, expect that your income will increase over the years, so don’t let your starting or current income inhibit your goals. However, you do have to prioritize, and as you set up your investment plan, target each goal separately.

After inputting some assumptions into a retirement calculator, this indicates a need for $1 million in capital, which is your target. Using a savings calculator, and assuming an average annual return of 6.5%, you need to save $500 per month starting at age 30, your savings goal. Your next step is to create a spending plan that allows you to meet this goal.

Create a Spending Plan

The mistake many people make when creating a personal spending plan is that they determine their savings amounts around their monthly expenses, which means they save what they have left over after expenses.

This method invariably results in a sporadic investing plan, which could mean no money is available for investing if expenses run high one month. People who are intent on achieving their goals reverse the process and determine their monthly expenses around their savings goals. If your savings goal is $500, this amount is your first expenditure.

It is especially easy to do if you set up an automatic deduction from your paycheck for a qualified retirement plan. This forces you to manage your expenses on $500 less each month.

Lock in a Percentage of Your Income

Most financial planners advise saving 10% to 15% of annual income. A savings goal of $500 a month amounts to 12% of your income, which is considered an appropriate amount for that income level.

Assuming your income increases by an average of 4% per year, this automatically increases your savings amount by 4%. In 10 years, your annual savings amount, which started out as $6,000 per year, goes up to $8,540 per year. By the time you are 55, your annual savings will increase to $16,000.

Invest According to Your Risk Profile

This investment plan assumes an average annual rate of return of 6.5%, which is achievable based on the historical return of the stock market over the last 100 years. It assumes a moderate investment profile, investing in large-cap stocks.

If you are adverse to risk or prefer to include investments that are less volatile than stocks, you will have to lower your assumed rate of return, which means you must raise the annual dollar amount you invest.

When you’re in your 20s, 30s, and 40s, you have a longer time horizon, which may allow you to assume a little more risk for the potential of higher returns. Then, as you get closer to your retirement target, you will probably want to reduce the volatility in your portfolio by adding more fixed-income investments. By staying focused on your benchmark of a 6.5% average annual rate of return, you should be able to construct a portfolio allocation that suits your evolving risk profile over time and allows you to maintain a constant monthly investment amount.

What is a financial portfolio?

A portfolio is a collection of financial investments like stocks, bonds, commodities, cash, and cash equivalents, includingclosed-end fundsandexchange-traded funds (ETFs). People generally believe that stocks, bonds, and cash comprise the core of a portfolio. Though this is often the case, it does not need to be the rule. A portfolio may contain a wide range of assets, including real estate, art, and private investments. You may either choose to hold and manage your portfolio yourself or allow a money manager, financial advisor, or another finance professional to manage your portfolio.

What is a personal spending plan?

A spending plan is an informal document used to determine the cash flow of an individual or household. A personal spending plan, similar to one’s budget, helps outline where income is earned and where expenses are incurred. When paired with a financial goals worksheet, the personal spending plan can be used to create a road map for monitoring spending, as well as helping determine the most appropriate methods for saving.

What is an investment strategy?

The term “investment strategy” refers to a set of principles designed to help an individual investor achieve their financial and investment goals. This plan is what guides an investor’s decisions based on goals,risk tolerance, and future needs for capital. They can vary from conservative (where they followa low-riskstrategy in which the focus is on wealth protection) to highly aggressive (seeking rapid growthby focusing oncapital appreciation).

Investors can use their strategies to formulate their ownportfoliosor do so through a financial professional. Strategies aren’t static, which means they need to be reviewed periodically as circ*mstances change.

The Bottom Line

Having a plan is, naturally, the best way to achieve a goal. That holds true when reaching financial goals, such as retiring at a set age with the amount of money you need to live comfortably. You can, for instance, retire at age 65 with $1 million in retirement savings, if you start young—say, at age 30—and prioritize the savings throughout your working years, by following four steps. They are setting goals; creating a spending plan; locking in to saving a percentage of your income; and investing according to your risk profile.

How Much Should I Invest If I Make $50K a Year? (2024)

FAQs

How Much Should I Invest If I Make $50K a Year? ›

It depends on the amount you earn from your investments. If you only make 3% per year, you'll need around $1.67 million to make $50,000 without touching your principal. However, if you can make a 7% return, your required savings would be under $715,000. Accumulating $715,000 isn't an impossible task.

How much interest does $50 000 earn in a year? ›

A sum of $50,000 in cash can earn about $195 a year in an average bank savings account or as much as $2,300 if you put it into a high-quality corporate bond fund. Other options include money market accounts, money market funds, certificate of deposits and government and corporate bonds.

What is the best investment if I have 50k? ›

Property investment is likely the best way to invest 50k. It would help if you spoke to a financial advisor before deciding to invest money. A savings account is the safest way to invest 50k. You need to know your risk tolerance before deciding where to invest 50k.

How do you turn $50 K into passive income? ›

5 Ways To Make $50,000 a Year in Passive Income
  1. Buy a Rental Property Online. ...
  2. Launch Your Own Mini-Fleet of Rental Cars. ...
  3. Stake Cryptocurrency. ...
  4. Buy a Blog. ...
  5. Buy Into a 'Goldilocks' Dividend Stock Fund.
Apr 24, 2023

How to invest on a 50k salary? ›

Here are several ways you could invest $50,000:
  1. Take Advantage of the Stock Market. These days, you don't need a stockbroker to trade stocks. ...
  2. Invest in Mutual Funds or ETFs. ...
  3. Consider Real Estate Investing. ...
  4. Invest in Bonds. ...
  5. Invest in CDs. ...
  6. Fill a Savings Account. ...
  7. Try Peer-to-Peer Lending. ...
  8. Start Your Own Business.
Apr 5, 2023

Is $50 K in savings a lot? ›

According to Fidelity, by age 30, you should have a year's salary in retirement savings. Based on the average salary at this age as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most 30-year-olds should have about $50,000 in retirement savings — so this means that many younger Americans are on track.

Can you live on $50 000 a year in retirement? ›

Can You Retire on $50k per Year? For many people, $50,000 is enough income to live comfortably, although your location and lifestyle are important factors.

How to turn 50K to 100K? ›

How To Turn 50K Into 100K – The Best Methods To Double Your Money
  1. Start An Online Business. ...
  2. Invest In Real Estate. ...
  3. Invest In Stocks & ETFs. ...
  4. Invest In A Blog. ...
  5. Retail Arbitrage. ...
  6. Invest In Alternative Assets. ...
  7. Create A Rental Business. ...
  8. Invest In Small Businesses.
Mar 1, 2023

At what age should you have 50K saved? ›

By age 30, you should have one time your annual salary saved. For example, if you're earning $50,000, you should have $50,000 banked for retirement. By age 40, you should have three times your annual salary already saved. By age 50, you should have six times your salary in an account.

Where is the safest place to invest 50K? ›

What is the safest investment for $50,000? The safest way to invest $50,000 would be to put it in a savings account or CD. These are guaranteed to protect your money while earning some return. However, the downside is that there's limited return potential compared to some of the other ways you can invest.

How to turn your $50 K salary into a $1 m retirement fund? ›

How To Turn Your $50K Salary Into a $1M Retirement Fund
  1. Make a Commitment To Save For Retirement. ...
  2. Know Your Number. ...
  3. Start Saving as Soon as Possible. ...
  4. Find Room in Your Budget To Save. ...
  5. Be Consistent. ...
  6. Take Advantage of Matching Contributions From Your Employer. ...
  7. Save Your Tax Refund. ...
  8. Get a Side Gig To Boost Savings.
May 23, 2023

How can I make $5000 a month in passive income? ›

Top 10 Ways to Make 5K a Month
  1. Freelancing with Skills You Already Have.
  2. Blogging or Content Creation.
  3. Virtual Assistant.
  4. Start an Amazon FBA Business.
  5. Taking Pictures and Selling Stock Photos.
  6. Proofreading or Editing.
  7. Facebook Marketing.
  8. Self-Publishing Books on Amazon KDP.
Mar 23, 2023

Where to invest $5,000 right now? ›

What is the best way to invest $5,000?
  • Try real estate investing for rental income.
  • Invest in individual stocks.
  • Invest in mutual funds or ETFs.
  • Consider low-risk bonds.
  • Leverage robo-advisors for hands-off investing.
  • Open a CD for steady returns.
  • Put a little into cryptocurrency for high potential returns.
Mar 29, 2023

How much money do I need to invest to make $3000 a month? ›

To make $3000 a month in dividends you need to invest between $1,028,571 and $1,440,000 with an average portfolio of $1,200,000. The exact amount of money you will need to invest to create a $3000 per month dividend income depends on the dividend yield of the stocks.

Can a family of 4 live on 50000? ›

A budget for a family of four making 50k can be done. It's not going to be easy and you certainly won't be “keepin' up with the Joneses” You'll need to commit to a strict spending plan and make smart choices at every corner.

How many Americans have 50k in savings? ›

58% of Americans have less than $5,000 in savings.
Average savings amountShare of Americans
$1,000-$5,00016%
$5,000-$10,0009%
$10,000-$25,0008%
$25,000-$50,0005%
2 more rows
Feb 16, 2023

What percent of Americans have $50000 in savings? ›

Many Americans have a long way to go when it comes to affording retirement. According to the survey, 36% have less than $10,000 saved. Not far behind them is the 27% of Americans who have between $10,000 and $50,000 saved. Additionally, 15% have between $50,000 and $100,000 saved, and 9% have $100,00 to $200,000.

Can I retire at 50 with 500k? ›

Yes, you can! The average monthly Social Security Income in 2021 is $1,543 per person. In the tables below, we'll use an annuity with a lifetime income rider coupled with SSI to give you a better idea of the income you could receive from $500,000 in savings.

Can a 50 year old retire on $2 million dollars? ›

Yes, you can retire at 50 with 2 million dollars. At age 50, an annuity will provide a guaranteed income of $125,000 annually, starting immediately for the rest of the insured's lifetime. The income will stay the same and never decrease. annually initially, with the income amount increasing to keep up with inflation.

Is $1.5 million enough to retire at 60? ›

Is $1.5 million enough to retire at 60? Yes, you can retire at 60 with $1.5 million. At age 60, an annuity will provide a guaranteed income of $91,500 annually, starting immediately for the rest of the insured's lifetime.

Can you live on $3000 a month in retirement? ›

If you have a low living cost and can supplement your income with a part-time job or a generous pension, then retiring on $3,000 a month is certainly possible.

Is 50K a good income? ›

$50,000 per year can be considered a good salary, especially for a single-person household. As the cost of living can vary greatly from state and city, it is essential to make a realistic budget considering your family's expenses when reviewing a 50k a year job offer.

How to double $5,000 quickly? ›

10+ Ways to Double $5,000
  1. Start a Side Hustle. Perhaps the most common method of making more money is starting a side hustle. ...
  2. Invest in Stocks and Bonds. ...
  3. Day Trade. ...
  4. Save More Money. ...
  5. Buy and Resell Items on Amazon and eBay. ...
  6. Build an eCommerce Business. ...
  7. Sell Your Stuff. ...
  8. Earn cashback When You Shop.

Can you turn 10K into 100k in stock market? ›

The stock market can be an excellent way to turn 10k into 100k in a few years time. By utilizing index funds you can maximize your returns while also limiting risk. Index funds are a group of stocks that track an entire index like the S&P 500, for example, and they can be a great way to turn money into more money.

Is saving $1,500 a month good? ›

Saving $1,500 a month is an excellent goal to have. It can help you build up your savings and put you in a better financial position for the future. Having this amount of money saved each month can give you more flexibility when it comes to making decisions about spending or investing.

How many Americans have $10,000 in savings? ›

Majority of Americans Have Less Than $1K in Their Savings Now
How Much Do Americans Have in Their Savings Accounts?
$1,001-$2,00010.60%9.81%
$2,001-$5,00010.60%10.64%
$5,001-$10,0009.20%9.51%
$10,000+12.60%13.48%
4 more rows
Mar 27, 2023

Is $4 million enough to retire at 50? ›

If you're wondering if $3 million or even $4 million is enough to retire at 50, the answer is, generally, yes. However, this depends on your desired retirement lifestyle and your investment strategy.

What is the safest investment with high returns? ›

High-quality bonds and fixed-indexed annuities are often considered the safest investments with the highest returns. However, there are many different types of bond funds and annuities, each with risks and rewards. For example, government bonds are generally more stable than corporate bonds based on past performance.

Where to invest $5,000 for 1 year? ›

Best Funds for 5000 Monthly SIP Investment
Fund NameCategoryType
ICICI Prudential Technology Direct Plan GrowthEquitySectoral / Thematic
Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund Direct GrowthDebtCorporate Bond
Axis Small Cap Fund Direct GrowthEquitySmall Cap
Tata Digital India Fund Direct GrowthEquitySectoral / Thematic
4 more rows

Is it smart to invest in gold? ›

Gold is considered a hedge against inflation

Gold and other precious metals have long been considered a smart way to fight inflation. That's because it tends to hold its value and preserve your purchasing power over the long haul, despite fluctuations in the dollar.

Can I retire at 55 with $3 m? ›

The good news: As long as you plan carefully, $3 million should be a comfortable amount to retire on at 55. If you're ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Is $2 m enough to retire at 60? ›

Yes, for some people, $2 million should be more than enough to retire. For others, $2 million may not even scratch the surface. The answer depends on your personal situation and there are lot of challenges you'll face. As of 2023, it seems the number of obstacles to a successful retirement continues to grow.

Is $2 m enough to retire at 65? ›

Retiring at 65 seems like a typical target, but it takes careful planning and a sufficient nest egg to pull off. If you accrue $2 million during your career, you can pay yourself $80,000 annually without touching your principal, which translates to a healthy monthly budget.

How to passively make $2,000 a month? ›

Wrapping up ways to make $2,000/month in passive income
  1. Try out affiliate marketing.
  2. Sell an online course.
  3. Monetize a blog with Google Adsense.
  4. Become an influencer.
  5. Write and sell e-books.
  6. Freelance on websites like Upwork.
  7. Start an e-commerce store.
  8. Get paid to complete surveys.

How to make $100,000 per year in passive income? ›

6 Ways To Make $100K Per Year With Passive Income
  1. Start a Niche Blog. Chelsea Clarke, founder of HerPaperRoute, says starting a niche blog requires a lot of upfront work. ...
  2. Create a Course. ...
  3. Invest in CDs. ...
  4. Buy Stocks. ...
  5. Consider Bonds. ...
  6. Purchase Real Estate.
May 12, 2023

How to make $500 a day passive income? ›

9 Passive Income Ideas – How I Make $500 per Day
  1. Rental Properties. Rental properties can provide a steady stream of passive income. ...
  2. Dividend Stocks. ...
  3. Peer-to-Peer Lending. ...
  4. Royalties. ...
  5. Affiliate Marketing. ...
  6. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) ...
  7. Create an Online Course. ...
  8. Create an App or Software.
Mar 20, 2023

Can you live off of rental income? ›

Effectively managing and maximizing cash flow for your investment properties will allow you to live off the rental property income. Several factors can impact your ability to maintain a positive cash flow. You'll need to show your rental property in the best light possible to attract high-quality residents.

How can I make $10 000 a month in passive income? ›

Here are 11 ways to make 10k a month.
  1. Start Dropshipping with Shopify. ...
  2. Offer Freelance Writing Services. ...
  3. Start a Bookkeeping Business. ...
  4. Open a Custom Pins Shop Online. ...
  5. Start Affiliate Marketing with Clickbank. ...
  6. Start a Blog. ...
  7. Sell T-Shirts through Tee Spring. ...
  8. Start a Web Development Business.
Apr 26, 2023

How to turn $25,000 into a million? ›

Based on an investment of $25,000 today, it'd take a return of 13.08% per year to transform into $1 million in 30 years. If you require a shorter time to grow your investments, you'll need a higher return to arrive at $1 million sooner.

How to turn 5K to 10K? ›

8 tips to transition from 5K to 10K
  1. Build up your distance gradually. Building up to a 10K takes time so don't expect to achieve too much too soon. ...
  2. Take rest days. ...
  3. Cross-train. ...
  4. Stretch. ...
  5. Do one long run a week. ...
  6. Do a threshold session once a week. ...
  7. Set yourself a goal. ...
  8. Stick your training plan on the fridge.
May 17, 2023

How to invest $10,000 today? ›

5 ways to invest $10,000
  1. Fund an IRA. One of the most popular ways to invest $10,000 is funding an individual retirement account. ...
  2. Invest in mutual funds or ETFs. Investing in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds is another option for your $10,000. ...
  3. Buy stocks. ...
  4. Buy bonds. ...
  5. Invest in REITs.
May 3, 2023

How long to become a millionaire investing $1,000 a month? ›

If you put $1,000 into investments every month for 30 years, you can probably anticipate having more than $1 million by the end, assuming a 6% annual rate of return and few surprises.

How long will it take to become a millionaire if I invest 1000 a month? ›

If you start saving $1000 a month at age 20 will grow to $1.6 million when you retire in 47 years. For people starting saving at that age, the monthly payments add up to $560,000: the early start combined with the estimated 4% over the years means that their investments skyrocketed nearly $1. 1million.

How much do I need to invest to be a millionaire in 15 years? ›

How to become a millionaire in 15 years. To become a millionaire in 15 years, you'll need to put aside $34,101 per year for 15 years while earning an average return of 8%.

What income is considered rich for a family of 4? ›

Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year.

Can 2 people live on $40000 a year? ›

We're here to help!

But a $40,000 salary is not typically enough for a household to live comfortably in most parts of the United States. To put it another way, a single person can live more comfortably on a $40,000 salary, but a family — with or without children — may find it more difficult.

Is 50k a lot for a single person? ›

Is 50k a good salary for a Single Person? Simply put, yes. You can stretch your salary much further because you are only worried about your own expenses. A single person will spend much less than if you need to provide for someone else.

How much interest will I get on 50000? ›

List of NBFC FD Interest Rates for a ₹50,000 Fixed Deposit for 1 Year
NBFCInterest RateMaturity Amount
Bajaj Finance FD7.65%₹53,825
PNB Housing Finance FD7.60%₹53,800
Mahindra Finance FD7.65%₹53,825

What is the 4% interest of 50000? ›

Compound interest = A - P = 54080 - 50000 = 4080.

How much interest does 100k make a year from a bank? ›

How much interest can $100,000 earn in a year? If you put $100,000 in CDs, high-yield savings or a money market account for a year, you could earn anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 based on current interest rates.

Can I live off the interest of $100000? ›

Interest on $100,000

Even with a well-diversified portfolio and minimal living expenses, this amount is not high enough to provide for most people. Investing this amount in a low-risk investment like a savings account with a rate between 2% to 2.50% of interest each year would return $2,000 to $2,500.

How long will it take $1000 to double at 5% interest? ›

Answer and Explanation: The answer is: 12 years.

How many years will it take to double your money with 6% interest? ›

So, if the interest rate is 6%, you would divide 72 by 6 to get 12. This means that the investment will take about 12 years to double with a 6% fixed annual interest rate.

What is 5% interest on $20000? ›

For example, if you take out a five-year loan for $20,000 and the interest rate on the loan is 5 percent, the simple interest formula would be $20,000 x .05 x 5 = $5,000 in interest.

How much interest will I earn on 1 million dollars in a year? ›

As noted above, the average rate on savings accounts as of February 3rd 2021, is 0.05% APY. A million-dollar deposit with that APY would generate $500 of interest after one year ($1,000,000 X 0.0005 = $500).

What is the rule of 7% interest? ›

Let's say you have an investment balance of $100,000, and you want to know how long it will take to get it to $200,000 without adding any more funds. With an estimated annual return of 7%, you'd divide 72 by 7 to see that your investment will double every 10.29 years.

What pays 5% interest? ›

Best 5% interest savings accounts
  • Best overall: Western Alliance Bank Savings Account.
  • Best for earning a high APY: Newtek Bank Personal High Yield Savings.
  • Best for no fees: Bask Interest Savings Account.
  • Best for easy access to your cash: Panacea High-Yield Savings Account.
May 22, 2023

Can you live off the interest of $1 million dollars? ›

Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.

Can you live off interest of 2 million dollars? ›

At $200,000 per year in average returns, this is more than enough for all but the highest spenders to live comfortably. You can collect your returns, pay your capital gains taxes and have plenty left over for a comfortable lifestyle. The bad news about an index fund is the variability.

Can you live off the interest of 3 million dollars? ›

Living off the interest of $3 million is possible when you diversify your portfolio and pick the right investments. Here are six common investments and expected income for each year: Savings and money market accounts. Savings accounts are one of the most liquid places to hold your money besides a checking account.

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