Your Money

By the time you turn 50, the rule of thumb is to have six times your salary saved for retirement. For example, if you earn $100,000, ideally, you should have around $600,000 in your retirement savings account. However, with Fidelity Investment's latest Retirement Analysis released for Q2 2023, the average 401(k) balance for Americans between 50 and 59 is just under $190,000. Worse, that's skewed by some huge balances because the median balance is only $57,000.

Some silver linings may come from holes in the methodology. Americans rarely stay at one job their whole career. The study doesn't have insight into balances left at previous employers, rolled into Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), or spousal accounts.

Remember, a rule of thumb is just that. It takes more effort and a personalized approach to ensure your retirement savings are on track for your situation. At PWM, investment and retirement planning is a key focus of what we do. For do-it-yourselfers, we have a handy calculator that can help get your retirement savings on track.

Do I have enough?
source: PRESERVE Wealth Management

Your Life

Between news of ongoing drought to floods due to hurricanes and storms, the rising cost of water for the US household continues. While the regular person might be able to opt for solar to combat the rising electricity costs, what is one to do with the increasing cost of water? Digging your own personal water well is only allowed in a few established neighborhoods and communities and can cost $20K+ with no guarantees of hitting water. That’s difficult to risk and pay for most Americans. On average, a monthly water bill for one person in the US can range from $20 to upwards of $100. Depending on local factors such as taxes, population density, drought conditions, and type of service (metered or flat rate), prices can vary widely. Water and sewage bills have increased yearly and are rising faster than inflation. The average water consumption in the US is up to 100 gallons per day per person. Aging systems, fewer resources, and extreme weather also stress US cities. Income-based water bills are gaining traction in many cities. In 2015, water use was approximately 322 billion gallons per day, with 138 trillion estimated for 2022.

Water Prices by State
source: Wise Voter 

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