Americans Think They Need $1.26 Million to Retire. Are They Right?

Group 1 - The core finding of a Northwestern Mutual study indicates that Americans believe they need $1.26 million saved for retirement security [1][7] - The amount of income generated from $1.26 million depends on the withdrawal rate and remaining balance in retirement accounts [2][3] - The traditional 4% rule suggests that withdrawing 4% annually could yield $50,400 in the first year from a $1.26 million retirement fund [4][5] Group 2 - The adequacy of $1.26 million for retirement varies based on individual income, budget, and inflation considerations [6][8] - While $50,400 may seem sufficient today, inflation could significantly reduce its purchasing power over time [8]