Is it good to be debt free when you retire?
In retirement, you have a limited income, so it's important to prioritize getting rid of any debt – a mortgage, credit card arrears, and car loans – before you say goodbye to the working world.
A good goal is to be debt-free by retirement age, either 65 or earlier if you want. If you have other goals, such as taking a sabbatical or starting a business, you should make sure that your debt isn't going to hold you back.
People between the ages of 35 to 44 typically carry the highest amount of debt, as a result of spending on mortgages and student loans. Debt eases for those between the ages of 45-54 thanks to higher salaries. For those between the ages of 55 to 64, their assets may outweigh their debt.
If the interest rate on your debt is 6% or greater, you should generally pay down debt before investing additional dollars toward retirement. This guideline assumes that you've already put away some emergency savings, you've fully captured any employer match, and you've paid off any credit card debt.
Financial planners often recommend replacing about 80% of your pre-retirement income to sustain the same lifestyle after you retire. This means that, if you earn $100,000 per year, you'd aim for at least $80,000 of income (in today's dollars) in retirement.
The short answer is yes, $500,000 is enough for many retirees. The question is how that will work out for you. With an income source like Social Security, modes spending, and a bit of good luck, this is feasible. And when two people in your household get Social Security or pension income, it's even easier.
But with nearly two-thirds of retirement-age Americans having paid off their mortgages, it means that the average age they have gotten rid of that debt is likely in their early 60s. Stats from 538.com, for example, suggest the age is around 63.
Being debt-free is a financial milestone we often hear about people striving for. Without debt, you can focus on building more savings, investing those extra funds and just simply having more peace of mind about your finances.
Among retirees, 71% have debt not related to their mortgage with an average balance of $19,888, according to the 2023 State of Retirement Finances report from Clever Real Estate. Some of the main reasons retirees carry debt include: Changing market conditions. Depletion of savings.
| Generation | Average total debt (2023) | Average total debt (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Millenial (27-42) | $125,047 | $115,784 |
| Gen X (43-57) | $157,556 | $154,658 |
| Baby Boomer (58-77) | $94,880 | $96,087 |
| Silent Generation (78+) | $38,600 | $39,345 |
Do most retirees have debt?
Retiree Debt Is Real, and Growing
Debt in retirement is a complicated issue, as discussed in a recent publication by Boston College's Anqi Chen, Siyan Liu and Alicia Munnell. Retiree debt is growing and has been since the mid-90's. Today about 60% of Americans over 65 owe money.
As such, having to make debt payments as a retiree could constitute a major strain. Unfortunately, it's a strain many people risk dealing with. A recent Nationwide study finds that Americans of retirement age have an average of $70,000 in debt. And that's not the most comforting piece of data.
High-interest debt eats into retirement income. It is estimated that the average person retiring this year will spend $157,500 on medical expenses. Most people will go into retirement with a housing expense of some kind.
Average Monthly Retirement Income
According to data from the BLS, average 2022 incomes after taxes were as follows for older households: 65-74 years: $63,187 per year or $5,266 per month. 75 and older: $47,928 per year or $3,994 per month.
Safe Withdrawal Rate
Using our portfolio of $400,000 and the 4% withdrawal rate, you could withdraw $16,000 annually from your retirement accounts and expect your money to last for at least 30 years. If, say, your Social Security checks are $2,000 monthly, you'd have a combined annual income in retirement of $40,000.
If you run out of money in retirement, you may face financial hardship and reduced quality of life. You may need to rely on family members or government programs for financial assistance, reduce your standard of living, or make significant lifestyle changes.
If you retire with no money, you'll have to consider ways to create income to pay your living expenses. That might include applying for Social Security retirement benefits, getting a reverse mortgage if you own a home, or starting a side hustle or part-time job to generate a steady paycheck.
| Age range | Average balance | Median balance |
|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | $76,354 | $28,318 |
| 45-54 | $142,069 | $48,301 |
| 55-64 | $207,874 | $71,168 |
| 65+ | $232,710 | $70,620 |
There are different rules of thumb you can apply to come up with an ideal net worth calculation. For example, one rule suggests having a net worth at 70 that's equivalent to 20 times your annual expenses. If you spend $100,000 a year to live in retirement, you should have a net worth of at least $2 million.
For many retirees, being free of mortgage payments in time for retirement is becoming a thing of the past. The oldest segment of baby boomers—individuals born between 1946 and 1951—are far less likely to have paid off their mortgage prior to retirement, according to TIAA.
Do the rich pay off their mortgage?
Most have paid off their mortgages. In 2020, 58% of the state's equity millionaires owned their homes free and clear. Statewide, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of Californians who have paid off their mortgages, from 1.6 million households in 2000 to 2.4 million in 2020.
In 2022, researchers found that just over 40 percent of homeowners older than 64 had a mortgage, a jump from roughly 25 percent a generation ago. Ultralow mortgage rates were a big driver of the increase, said Jennifer Molinsky, project director of the center's housing and aging society program.
Around 23% of Americans are debt free, according to the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve. That figure factors in every type of debt, from credit card balances and student loans to mortgages, car loans and more. The exact definition of debt free can vary, though, depending on whom you ask.
While it's important to save, it's even more important to pay off non-deductible, high-interest debt, like your credit card balance, as fast as possible. Using some of your savings to pay off this kind of debt can actually be the most cost-effective way to help you spend less over time.
This could be in the form of a payday loan, credit card, personal loan, etc. In these situations, you spend most of your time, money, and effort paying off the interest and little or no money is going to the principle of the loan.
