144. Are You On Track for Retirement? Benchmarks, Rules of Thumb, and Your Real Number

Episode Title: Are You On Track for Retirement? Benchmarks, Rules of Thumb, and Your Real Number 

Episode Summary 

If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, you’ve probably wondered: “Am I saving enough for retirement?” Maybe you’ve even Googled it and seen benchmarks like 3× your salary saved by 40, 6× by 50, or 10× by 60. But what do those numbers really mean — and do they apply to your life? 

In this episode of The Fit Financial Podcast, we’re breaking down retirement readiness benchmarks, why common rules of thumb like the 4% Rule can be misleading, and how to create a retirement strategy that actually fits your lifestyle and goals. 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode 

• ✅ The most common retirement savings benchmarks (3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8–11× by 60) and what they really tell you. 

• ✅ Why rules of thumb like the 4% Rule or the “Rule of $1,000” oversimplify retirement planning. 

• ✅ A dynamic approach to withdrawals (Guyton-Klinger Guardrails) that adjusts with your portfolio. 

• ✅ How asset allocation and “buckets of money” can protect your retirement income. 

• ✅ Why your retirement number is unique — and how lifestyle, debt, healthcare, longevity, and income sources change everything. 

• ✅ A step-by-step way to calculate your personal retirement target and stress-test it against inflation, market downturns, and longer lifespans. 

Links Mentioned 

• 📞 Book a Retirement Readiness Call with me → fitwealthadvisors.com/contact 

Wrap-Up 

Benchmarks are a helpful starting point — but your retirement plan has to be customized to you. This episode will help you understand the numbers, the pitfalls of relying only on rules of thumb, and the steps you can take now to feel confident about your financial future.