Can I Retire at 70 With $3M?

Is $3M Enough to Retire at 70?

The 4% rule — pioneered by financial planner William Bengen in 1994 and validated by the Trinity Study — suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in Year 1, then adjusting for inflation annually. With $3,000,000, that's $120,000/year or $10,000/month. The average retired household spends $4,065/month (2022 BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey). At this portfolio size, you have a 5,935/month cushion above average expenses.

Withdrawal Rate Comparison

How Long Will It Last?

Retiring at 70 means a 15-year retirement to age 85 (average life expectancy for a 70-year-old is actually higher — about 87 for women, 84 for men). At 4% withdrawals with 7% average investment returns and 3% inflation, a $3M portfolio historically lasts 30+ years in 90%+ of historical market scenarios. The risk: early retirement (pre-60) spans more market cycles.