Run a plain-language retirement readiness check
Long-term readiness is checkable in twenty minutes. Most households have never checked it once.
Number one: your savings rate
Total annual contributions, including any employer match, divided by gross income. Fifteen percent is the common benchmark for a full career; higher if you started late.
Number two: what you are on track to replace
Use a free calculator from your plan provider. The output that matters is the share of current spending your plan replaces, not the account balance.
Number three: your fee drag
Check the expense ratio of every fund you hold. Above roughly half a percent is worth questioning, and above one percent is expensive for a standard index option.
Number four: leaks
Old accounts, unclaimed matches, and stalled contributions quietly cost more than most investment choices.
- Roll over or consolidate accounts from former employers
- Confirm you are contributing enough to get the full match
- Turn on an annual automatic contribution increase
- Update beneficiaries while you are in the account
Common questions
How much of my income should I save for retirement?
Around 15 percent of gross income including employer match is the usual benchmark for someone saving across a full career. Starting later means a higher rate.
Do I need a financial advisor?
Not for the basics. Low-cost index funds inside a workplace plan, a sufficient savings rate, and correct beneficiaries handle most of the outcome. Advice pays off for complex situations.
See where your household stands
The Household Resilience Check scores this dimension along with seven others in about five minutes.
Take the Household Resilience Check →