As part of the baby boomer generation, you’re likely retired or close to leaving the workforce for good. This means that now, more than ever, evaluating your finances is a must.
Do you have enough money to retire comfortably ? How can you know for sure whether you’re in good financial health or not?
If any of these 12 things describe you, you may be falling short financially compared to your peers.
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1. You owe more than $188,034 on your mortgage
At this stage in life, many members of your generation have either a paid-off mortgage or have less than half their total mortgage loan remaining.
Per a Credit Karma study from 2023, the average home-owning boomer carries $188,034 in mortgage debt. If you owe more than that, you’re a bit behind.
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If you own a new car and are still paying off your auto loan to the tune of $22,531 or more, you’re in more debt than the average boomer.
According to the same Credit Karma study, boomers with auto debt owe an average of $22,530, making payments of $574 per month.
3. Your net worth is less than $200,000
Your net worth is the total of all your assets minus your liabilities. At this stage in your life, you hopefully own more than you owe, and your median net worth is somewhere between $200,000 and $255,000. If it’s less than that, you’re falling behind compared to your peers.
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4. You have more than $7,464 in credit card debt
Nearly 49% of Americans carry credit card debt from month to month, and as a group, boomers carry more credit card debt per person than any generation save Gen X. If you have more than $7,464 in consumer debt, you’re doing worse than others in your age group.
5. You have less than $202,000 saved for retirement
The median amount of retirement savings for working boomers is around $202,000. While you might think you don’t need as much money as the average retiree, you might want to beef up your savings goals if you’ve got less than that in your retirement fund.
6. You can’t afford to take any vacations this year
Per a recent study by AARP, 62% of adults ages 50 and up scheduled at least one vacation for the year, and the average number of vacations booked by seniors is around three or four.
While planning a vacation isn’t the same thing as being able to afford that vacation, you might need to step back and take a look at your finances if you don’t have room in your budget for leisure travel.
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Perhaps surprisingly, boomers have more student loan debt than millennials and Gen Xers. The average amount owed by boomers is just over $43,500, so if you owe more than that, you’re a little behind the curve compared to other former students in your age group.
8. You aren’t contributing to a 401(k)
If you don’t have an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you’re well behind the majority of your generation: Apparently, 85% of baby boomers contribute at least some money to a 401(k) as part of their overall retirement saving strategy.
9. You have a 401(k), but you’re saving less than 10% of your annual income
Among baby boomers who participate in employer-sponsored savings plans, the median amount saved is around 10% of each individual’s annual income.
If you’re putting less than that into your 401(k), you might want to consider upping your contributions to match your peers.
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10. You have less than $25,000 in your emergency savings fund
Unlike a retirement fund, an emergency savings account gives you easy access to cash in the event of a short-term financial crisis.
Boomers store a median amount of $25,000 in their emergency savings accounts, so if you have less than that saved for a rainy day, you’ll have less cash on hand in a crisis than many other boomers.
11. You didn’t start saving for retirement until you were older than 35
The median age at which boomers started saving for retirement was 35, which is later than that of younger generations.
While you can’t go back in time and change your saving habits, you can make catch-up contributions to help boost your finances .
12. You pay more than $548 per month for your collective debts
Boomers spend an average of $548 a month across all types of debt, including student loan payments, consumer debt, and car payments.
If you’re paying more than that to various creditors every month, you’re likely carrying more debt than most of your peers.
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Bottom line
Comparing your finances to those of your peers only goes so far. If you’re worried about your finances, your best bet is to meet with a trusted financial advisor or retirement planner who can give you specific advice about how to meet your retirement savings goals .
With some smart planning, you’ll find it easier to catch up to other boomers if you’ve fallen short based on the metrics above.
Money tips that can work for everyone
No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.
Focus on paying off your debt. Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.
Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.
Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).
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