Financial independence is the ultimate aim for many savers and investors but it is getting more expensive to ensure your retirement income can fully cover your living expenses.
A traditional retirement aim is to save 25 times your annual spending so you can maintain your lifestyle for 25 years once you retire.
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But new research suggests that to live financially independently for 25 years, the average UK household would need to save £743,338.
The figure rises to more than £1 million for higher earners.
What is financial independence?
Financial independence is a key part of many people’s retirement strategy.
Many financial advisers using cashflow modelling software will highlight a financial independence day, where a client will have earned enough from their investments to support them without having to work.
That goal can be tricky, especially as costs don’t disappear just because you retire.
The latest Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) data shows a comfortable retirement costs £43,900 per year for a single person household.
Many experts work to the 25x rule when assessing financial independence.
This aims to identify the amount and point where you no longer need to rely on a salary.
That means your savings and investments as well as rental income or other assets may be enough to support you for 25 years.
But that may be easier said than done.
New research from Shepherds Friendly has analysed average household spending across the UK, the typical value of household debt, and the amount recommended for a six-month emergency fund to uncover how much you would actually need to save to achieve 25 years of financial freedom in retirement.
How much do you need to be financially independent?
Shepherds Friendly considered two key factors: the rising cost of goods over 25 years, based on an average annual inflation rate of 2.88% and a 5% return on savings or investments. These assumptions help estimate how much money a household would need today to fund 25 years of expenses while only withdrawing what’s needed each year.
The average UK household spends £31,653 a year – totalling £1,168,765 over 25 years with yearly inflation applied. Add in average household debt of £121,525 and a six-month emergency fund, and the cost of financial freedom rises to £743,338, according to the research.
The figure is of course lower if your earnings are below this threshold.
The lowest earning 10% have a current annual expenditure of £15,551 and an average debt of £83,597, meaning they would need approximately £381,107 for 25 years of financial freedom, after adjusting for inflation, the research suggests.
On the other hand, households with higher-than average expenditure and debt will face a steeper target. A household in the top 10% of earners has an annual average expenditure of £57,914 and around £218,727 in debt, meaning they would need as much as £1,322,483 to achieve financial freedom for 25 years, with inflation applied.
Income level when retired | Annual household expenditure | Household debt | Six month emergency fund (current) | Cost of financial freedom (with inflation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
£3,156 (lowest ten percent) | £15,551.11 | £83,597 | £4,488.46 | £381,107.32 |
£4,196 (second decile group) | £18,654.45 | £87,605 | £5,232.81 | £444,334.40 |
£4,906 (third decile group) | £23,358.22 | £101,118 | £6,490.14 | £547,735.37 |
£6,074 (fourth decile group) | £26,931.94 | £86,689 | £7,120.20 | £601,274.01 |
£8,210 (fifth decile group) | £29,427.23 | £105,928 | £7,981.64 | £668,391.76 |
£12,010 (sixth decile group) | £33,218.92 | £109,478 | £8,536.43 | £743,941.54 |
£18,284 (seventh decile group) | £34,962.76 | £137,306 | £8,748.31 | £804,839.18 |
£25,637 (eighth decile group) | £40,337.67 | £134,786 | £10,097.63 | £904,945.90 |
£34,819 (ninth decile group) | £45,379.88 | £150,017 | £10,883.81 | £1,015,970.56 |
£67,662 (highest ten percent) | £57,913.70 | £218,727 | £12,517.49 | £1,322,482.60 |
All households – average | £32,564.98 | £121,525 | £8,207.46 | £743,337.91 |
Age is also a factor.
The earlier you want financial independence, the more you will need to have put aside.
For those aged 18-30, financial independence for life means covering expenses for a longer period of time, and they must take into account inflation over a longer period. With this in mind, the average amount needed for financial independence up until the age of 90 increases to £1,183,363, a figure which again takes into account yearly inflation.
The closer you get to retirement age, the more the financial burden eases. Those in their 50s and early 60s could need just under £1 million, according to Shepherds Friendly, while people aged 65 to 74 require around £500,000. For those already over 74, the cost drops to approximately £180,000.
Age group | Cost of financial freedom until 90 years old |
|---|---|
Under 30 | £1,183,363.31 |
Age 30-49 | £1,203,250.59 |
Age 50-64 | £866,556.81 |
Age 65-74 | £483,568.87 |
Over 75 | £186,474.44 |
Derence Lee, chief finance officer at Shepherds Friendly, said the 25-year rule is a useful starting point for planning financial freedom, adding: “However, this is only an estimate based on your current spending, so you’ll need to make adjustments if your spending habits shift over time.
“For example, outgoings such as travel costs might decrease as you get older and you spend more time at home, however utility costs may increase as a result. Alternatively, you might want to travel and take more holidays as you get older, meaning your savings pot may need to be larger.
“Additionally, if you plan to retire early, you will also need to save more to ensure your pot lasts for a longer time period. You may also want to plan for the possibility that you could outlive your savings. Investing, maintaining disciplined savings habits, and contributing to a pension are practical ways to grow your retirement pot and work towards long-term financial independence.”
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