Any marathon runner will tell you: You don’t think about all 42 kilometres at once. That would be too overwhelming. Instead, picture the race in chunks: 5km, 10km, or even one kilometre at a time. Manageable chunks.
This same philosophy can be useful when saving for your post-work life, especially when it’s still decades away. While the idea of saving $1 million may feel like a near-impossible feat, putting away just $150 or so per month in your 20s seems completely reasonable—and that still may get you to the million-dollar mark by retirement age, provided you’re disciplined, start early and hit your “splits,” as runners would say.
Just get started, save regularly, experience the power of compounding returns and learn about market risks– and track your progress.
For the sake of simplicity, let’s set aside inflation, fees, taxes and dividends. Yes, those things are important, but it’s more important that you just get started, save regularly, experience the power of compounding returns and learn about market risks– and track your progress.
Here’s what this example could look like:
Okay, deep breaths. I’m going to walk you through these targets, and explain why they’re more reachable than you might think—and why, if you’ve hit 30 and haven’t saved that much, it’s not too late.
The first thing you’ll probably notice about this chart is that your money doubles every seven years. I’m basing that on an investing concept known as the rule of 72, which says that if you earn 7.2 percent interest annually your money doubles in 10 years. Roughly, the reverse is true, as well: If you earn 10 percent on your money, it doubles in 7.2 years.
You also likely noticed that the larger you’re starting point in each doubling cycle, the larger the growth….That means the most important consideration is starting the doubling clock.
For the milestones listed above to work, you’ll likely need growth from both equity market returns (say, 7 percent) and additional cash saved (3 percent). Any percentage variation works—bigger investment returns, less cash added; more cash added, smaller returns—so long as you get to about 10 percent, your money will double every seven years or so.
You also likely noticed that the larger you’re starting point in each doubling cycle, the larger the growth. Under the example above, the balances really start to grow—to $200,000, $400,000 and beyond—during your 40s and 50s. That means the most important consideration is starting the doubling clock. If you embarked on this particular milestone chart at 37 instead of 30, for example, you may be missing $800,000 by retirement age.
Now, let’s talk through my assumptions, and how I got there. Again, it’s not that difficult to get from $50,000 to $100,000 in just seven years. You can do it by earning 7 percent in returns—a fair guideline for market returns—and contributing about $150 per month to your account.
Note the difference saving regularly makes, by contributing larger cash you may significantly reduce the time to double your money.
it’s entirely possible to start a humble retirement account, add $150 per month in your 20s and 30s and still be on target to retire a millionaire. You just have to hit your splits.
Another thing to keep in mind about your contributions: As you get older, the amount of cash that must be added in order to keep up the doubling effect—the 3 percent—needs to grow substantially. But you’re likely making more money, so that’s not unrealistic. For example, between ages 37-44, you’ll grow your retirement balance from $100,000 to $200,000 by earning 7-percent returns, for example, and depositing at least $250 per month (based on 3 percent of your starting balance, and assuming you’re getting 7 percent returns). Then from ages 44-51, your balance will balloon from $200,000 to $400,000 with 7 percent returns and at least $500 in monthly deposits (3 percent of $200,000 divided by 12).
Raiz fully automates this process, with the Roundup and Automatic Investment feature you can hit your splits whilst living your everyday life.
So yes, it’s entirely possible to start a humble retirement account, add $150 per month in your 20s and 30s and still be on target to retire a millionaire. You just have to hit your splits.
It is time to start thinking about saving for retirement, just like you would if training for a marathon. This is where Raiz can comes in. Instead of just waking up one day and trying to sprint 42km, you need to train, and start working on your financial fitness. Raiz fully automates this process, with the Roundup and Automatic Investment feature you can hit your splits whilst living your everyday life.
But none of those facts detract from the undeniable power of regular savings, time and compounding. A journey of a mile begins with the first step. A journey to $1 million begins with your first $100 investment.
Important Information
The examples above are for display purposes only and to illustrate a point – actual returns will be different and could be significantly less than the examples.
This blog was written by Raiz Limited– Authorised Representative of AFSL 434776. The Raiz product is issued in Australia by Instreet Investment Limited (ACN 128 813 016 AFSL 434776) and promoted by Raiz Limited (ACN 604 402 815). A Product Disclosure Statement dated 27 May 2016 for this product is available on the Raiz website and App.
A person should read and consider the Product Disclosure Statement in deciding whether or not to acquire and/or continue to hold interests in the product. The risks of investing in this product are fully set out in the Product Disclosure Statement, and include the risks that would ordinarily apply to investing.