What the benchmarks assume
The multiples are milestones on one path: start saving 15% of pay (including any employer match) at 25, invest mostly in stocks while young, and retire at 67. At 10× salary, a 4% withdrawal gives 40% of your final pay, which with Social Security replaces most people's working income. If you plan to retire earlier or spend more, you need a higher multiple; later retirement lowers it.
Catching up
- Get the full employer match. It is the highest return available. See the 401(k) calculator.
- Use catch-up contributions from 50: an extra $8,000 in a 401(k) and $1,100 in an IRA in 2026, more at 60–63.
- Work a little longer. Two or three more years can close a large gap, as the retirement calculator shows.
- Delay Social Security. Each year past full retirement age adds 8%. See the Social Security calculator.
Questions people ask
How much should I have saved for retirement by age?
Fidelity's widely used guideline is 1× your salary by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60 and 10× by 67. It assumes you save 15% of income from age 25, invest more than half in stocks, and retire at 67 on about 45% of pre-retirement income from savings.
How much should I have in my 401(k) at 40?
By the Fidelity guideline, about three times your salary across all retirement accounts. On a $75,000 salary that is $225,000. If you are behind, raising your contribution by a few percent and capturing the full employer match closes the gap fastest.
I'm behind. What should I do?
Don't panic: benchmarks assume saving from 25. Raise your savings rate, use catch-up contributions from 50, consider working a couple of years longer, and delay Social Security. Each of these moves the target meaningfully. Run your own plan in the retirement calculator.
Do the benchmarks include my home equity?
No. They count retirement savings and investments: 401(k), 403(b), IRAs, HSAs used for retirement and taxable brokerage accounts. Home equity is usually excluded unless you plan to downsize.
Why are benchmarks a multiple of salary?
Because your spending in retirement tends to track your income before it. A multiple scales the target to your lifestyle; a fixed dollar figure would be too high for some people and far too low for others.