Becoming a millionaire can provide a lot of financial security. And it's not an unreasonable goal for most people, even though it may feel as if it is. The reality is, if you have a long investing timeline and you make smart investments in your brokerage account, you can eventually end up with seven figures.
If you're getting started investing this year and you're hoping to hit your millionaire target in 30 years, here's how much you'd need to invest on a regular basis to end up hitting your goal.
This is what you'd need to invest to become a millionaire in 30 years time
Many people can expect to earn around a 10% average annual return over the long haul if they make reasonable investments.
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In fact, you don't need to be a skilled investor to do that, as you can put your money into a financial index called the S&P 500 that has consistently produced 10% average annual returns for decades. The S&P 500 tracks the performance of around 500 large U.S. companies, and is a pretty safe investment as long as you leave your money alone for the long term.
Assuming that you can earn this 10% average return over your investing career, if you are getting started investing this year and you want to become a millionaire in 30 years, you would need to invest $506.60 per month.
This amount may seem like a lot, but it may actually be pretty doable for many people. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that median weekly earnings for full-time workers was $1,118 in the third quarter of 2023. With an annual salary of around $58,136.00, the average American could hit the goal of contributing the required $506.60 per month if they were investing a little over 10% of their income. And since many people get employer matching funds if they invest in a 401(k), they wouldn't even necessarily need to come up with the full $506.60 on their own, as their company could help them out.
Of course, some people earn less than average, and finding $506.60 per month will undoubtedly be harder for them -- or perhaps even impossible. But they should still save what they can while working toward increasing income and investing more later in life.
And those who are starting to invest late will need to put aside a larger sum each month in order to become a millionaire if they don't have 30 years. If you have just 15 years until you want to achieve millionaire status, you'd need to invest $2,622.80 per month. This amount is a lot higher because you aren't benefiting as much from the long window of compound growth that happens when your investments earn returns that are reinvested and earn returns of their own.
How to make sure you hit your target
If you are serious about wanting to become a millionaire in 30 years and you're starting to invest in 2024, the best way to make sure you end up with a seven-figure nest egg is to set up automatic transfers from your checking account to your brokerage firm or to have money taken out of your paychecks and put into your 401(k).
You can sign up for a 401(k) right now by asking your employer how to do it. If you have access to this workplace plan, you may be entitled to matching contributions made from your employer as well as tax breaks. And the money you're contributing can be taken from your pay even before you get a paycheck or direct deposit. If you don't have a 401(k), on the other hand, it's pretty easy to set up automatic contributions to an IRA or other retirement account through your bank or broker.
If you have $506.60 transferred into your account every month, invest your money, and leave it alone for 30 years, you may just find yourself a millionaire at that time. So start investing today -- and dream of what your millionaire lifestyle will look like.
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FAQs
Start investing $507 per month
How much to invest to become a millionaire in 30 years? ›
Assuming that you can earn this 10% average return over your investing career, if you are getting started investing this year and you want to become a millionaire in 30 years, you would need to invest $506.60 per month. This amount may seem like a lot, but it may actually be pretty doable for many people.
What is considered a lot of money in 2024? ›
To be considered very high net worth, one might need assets ranging from $5 million to $10 million, while an ultra-high net worth status could require $30 million or more. These figures underscore the subjective nature of financial classifications across different thresholds of wealth.
How much money do I need to invest to make $4000 a month? ›
Making $4,000 a month based on your investments alone is not a small feat. For example, if you have an investment or combination of investments with a 9.5% yield, you would have to invest $500,000 or more potentially. This is a high amount, but could almost guarantee you a $4,000 monthly dividend income.
How to make one million dollars in 2024? ›
15 Ways to Make a Million Dollars
- Build an Online Business. Starting your own business is probably the fastest way to make a million dollars. ...
- Start a Side Hustle. ...
- Invest in Real Estate. ...
- Sell Online Courses. ...
- Start Freelancing. ...
- Sell eCommerce Products. ...
- Become an Influencer. ...
- Try Coaching or Consulting.
To save a million dollars in 30 years, you'll need to deposit around $850 a month. If you make $50k a year, that's roughly 20% of your pre-tax income. If you can't afford that now then you may want to dissect your expenses to see where you can cut, but if that doesn't work then saving something is better than nothing.
How much money do I need to invest to make $1000 a month? ›
A stock portfolio focused on dividends can generate $1,000 per month or more in perpetual passive income, Mircea Iosif wrote on Medium. “For example, at a 4% dividend yield, you would need a portfolio worth $300,000.
What income is middle class in 2024? ›
In a large U.S. city, a middle-class income averages between $52,000 and $155,000. The median household income across all 345 cities is $77,345, making middle-class income limits fall between $51,558 and $154,590.
How long will $100 000 dollars last? ›
Bottom Line. With $100,000 you should budget for a retirement income of around $5,000 to $8,000 on top of Social Security, depending on how you have invested your money. Much more than this will likely cause you to run out of money within 25 – 30 years, which is potentially within the lifespan of the average retiree.
Can you survive on $30,000 a year? ›
It's quite possible to live well on $30,000 per year if you're debt-free, but what if you have debt? I would recommend trying to pay it off as quickly as possible with the debt snowball approach. Cut your expenses as much as you can and put the amount you save toward debt each month.
Ways to Make $100,000 Per Year in Passive Income
- Invest in Real Estate. Rental properties generate income through tenants who pay rent each month to live in a property you own. ...
- CD Laddering. ...
- Dividend Stocks. ...
- Fixed-Income Securities. ...
- Start a Side Hustle.
In that case, use these tips to make the most of the money you have:
- Tally and reduce monthly expenses.
- Utilize free services.
- Consider working longer.
- Be strategic about Social Security.
- Tap into your home's equity.
- Keep your money invested.
- Talk to a finance professional.
Best Investments for Your $100,000
- Index Funds, Mutual Funds and ETFs.
- Individual Company Stocks.
- Real Estate.
- Savings Accounts, MMAs and CDs.
- Pay Down Your Debt.
- Create an Emergency Fund.
- Account for the Capital Gains Tax.
- Employ Diversification in Your Portfolio.
If you keep saving, you can get there even faster. If you invest just $500 per month into the fund on top of the initial $100,000, you'll get there in less than 20 years on average. Adding $1,000 per month will get you to $1 million within 17 years. There are a lot of great S&P 500 index funds.
Can $1 million dollars last 30 years in retirement? ›
Around the U.S., a $1 million nest egg can cover an average of 18.9 years worth of living expenses, GoBankingRates found. But where you retire can have a profound impact on how far your money goes, ranging from as a little as 10 years in Hawaii to more than than 20 years in more than a dozen states.
What is the average age to reach $1 million? ›
The average age of millionaires is 57, indicating that, for most people, it takes three or four decades of hard work to accumulate substantial wealth. Research was conducted by the authors, Thomas Stanley, Ph. D., and William D. Danko, Ph.
How much will I have if I invest $1000 a month for 30 years? ›
If you start by contributing $1,000 a month to a retirement account at age 30 or younger, your savings could be worth more than $1 million by the time you retire.
How much do I need to invest to make a million in 20 years? ›
Given an average 10% rate of return on the S&P 500, you need to save about $1,400 per month in order to save up $1 million over 20 years. That's a lot of money, but the good news is that changing the variables even a little bit can make a big difference.
How much do I need to save to be a millionaire in 35 years? ›
Years to Invest
| Years to Invest | How Much to Save Monthly to Become a Millionaire |
|---|
| 20 | $1,821.01 |
| 25 | $1,139.89 |
| 30 | $735.61 |
| 35 | $483.60 |
3 more rowsOct 20, 2021
Investing $100 per month, with an average return rate of 10%, will yield $200,000 after 30 years. Due to compound interest, your investment will yield $535,000 after 40 years. These numbers can grow exponentially with an extra $100. If you make a monthly investment of $200, your 30-year yield will be close to $400,000.
