The happiest retirees in America earned at least $100,032 in household income during their working years, according to a new report. That’s compared to $73,167 for unhappy retirees.
“Unless you can reach this level of earnings, you will not get to some of the key financial points that retirees need to get to in order to have a secure retirement,” said Wes Moss, author of the upcoming book You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think (McGraw Hill Press, 2014).
The 2013 Moss National Money and Happiness Study found that unhappy retirees had homes valued at $273,000. “Median home value for the happy group was $300,000. After $350,000, there is a marked plateau effect on home value and level of happiness,” Moss told MainStreet. The study further revealed that the happiest retirees don’t have a mortgage, and if they do, their mortgage payoff is in sight.
On average, 36% of happy retirees will have their mortgage paid-off within 8 years compared to only 24% of unhappy retirees.
“In retirement, your income is static. Your income is fixed with payments from social security, pension and savings. when your mortgage is paid off, more of that fixed income goes to your core passions, whether its travel, golf or grandkids, for example,” said Moss, who appeared in the second season of Donald Trump’s reality show “The Apprentice.”
To achieve retirement happiness, young workers are encouraged to save with purpose.
“Power savers put away 20% of their income into savings and pay about 30% in taxes, which leaves only half of an income to live on,” Moss said. “You need all that savings over a 30 year period for a happy retirement.”
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