Skip to main content
 

FINANCIAL PLANNING

Peak earning years

Most people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are pursuing multiple goals at the same time. It is a balancing act that requires careful planning.

What would you like the power to do?®

Invest for retirement and beyond
Use time to your advantage. Increase your savings as your income grows and take full advantage of tax-friendly retirement accounts.
What you need to save for retirement depends on several factors, including your current age, the age you plan to retire, your life expectancy based on family history, how much you expect to spend during retirement, and your sources of retirement income. Keep in mind, savings and investing are just part of your future retirement income. Social Security is the backbone of most retirement savings.
Learn More about saving for retirement
A chart showing age groups and how much of their salary they should have saved for retirement 18 - 25 at 0.1; 26 - 30 at 0.5; 31 - 35 at 1.1; 36 - 40 at 1.9; 41 - 45 at 2.8; 46 - 50 at 3.9; 51 - 55 at 5.3; 56 - 60 at 6.9 and 61 - 64 at 8.5. 18 - 25 at 0.1; 26 - 30 at 0.5; 31 - 35 at 1.1; 36 - 40 at 1.9; 41 - 45 at 2.8; 46 - 50 at 3.9; 51 - 55 at 5.3; 56 - 60 at 6.9 and 61 - 64 at 8.5. 18 - 25 at 0.1; 26 - 30 at 0.5; 31 - 35 at 1.1; 36 - 40 at 1.9; 41 - 45 at 2.8; 46 - 50 at 3.9; 51 - 55 at 5.3; 56 - 60 at 6.9 and 61 - 64 at 8.5.
Source: Chief Investment Office and Bank of America Retirement & Personal Wealth Solutions, "Financial Wellness: Helping improve the financial lives of your employees," 2024. Note: Calculations are based on obtaining 38% of income replacement from retirement savings (pre-tax) for middle-income households of $40,000 to $100,000 annually.
ARE YOU ON TRACK?
See where you stand in your retirement savings with our Personal Retirement Calculator at Merrill
Balance multiple goals
These are the years most people are tackling multiple goals. By prioritizing and planning, it's possible to strike a balance.
It may not always seem like there's enough money coming in to cover your current expenses and save for future needs. So, how do you juggle competing demands?
This framework can help you identify and prioritize your goals within each category so you can create a realistic plan for pursuing them.
Learn More about prioritizing goals
Item 1 of 4  selected

Plan for retirement

  1. Make 401(k) contributions to meet your employer match
  2. Maximize 401(k) contributions
  3. Contribute to an IRA
  4. Few or no fees
  5. Make catch-up contributions
  6. Consider a Health Savings Account (HSA)
EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS
Set financial goals and start working toward them with our roadmap or connect with a Merrill advisor.
Protect your wealth and wishes
Life can throw us curveballs. Preparing for unexpected events and making sure loved ones are aware of your wishes are key to your overall financial plan.
There are many different types of insurance that can help you protect your assets as well as your general wellbeing. Click through the list to see how various types of insurance might fit into your plan.
Select below for more items Scroll below for more items

Insure your life if others depend on you

Your employer my offer subsidized life insurance (most likely term life, which is the simplest form of life insurance). Other types, like whole life, universal life and variable life, can offer the opportunity of investment returns as well as protection.

Consider disability coverage

Disability insurance can replace lost income in the event of an accident or illness that keeps you from working.

Protect you home and belongings

Without property insurance, losing your home or belongings could quickly deplete your emergency fund and set you back.

Explore long-term care insurance

This type of insurance can help keep long-term costs from eating up your retirement savings since standard health insurance doesn't cover long-term care.
DID YOU KNOW?
In addition to insurance, a backup fund is a key part of your emergency plans. Learn more with Bank of America Better Money Habits.

Managing through life's events

Throughout your life, you're going to experience important events — like getting married or divorced, having a baby, a job change — that will affect your finances. While some are planned, others are not. We're here to help you prepare for these critical times.
Select below for more items Scroll below for more items
Family item  selected
Updates related article links below about  Getting married
Getting married or moving in together can be the start of an exciting new adventure. These resources can help you get ready for this new phase in your life.
Family item
Updates related article links below about Starting a family
The cost of raising a child continues to increase. Learn how to prepare financially and protect your growing family.
Family item
Updates related article links below about Getting divorced
Getting divorced can be a very stressful and financially complicated time. These resources can help you transition from "ours" to "mine" and "yours."
Family item
Updates related article links below about Caregiving
If you're faced with taking on the responsibility of caring for an aging or ill loved one, these resources can help.
Family item
Updates related article links below about Losing a loved one
The last thing anyone wants to prepare for is the loss of a loved one. But there are important decisions to make, and planning ahead can help make this time a little less stressful.
Family item
Updates related article links below about Receiving an inheritance
Receiving an inheritance can open up new possibilities. These tips can help you prepare to manage an inheritance or unexpected new wealth.
Work item
Updates related article links below about Your first job
Congratulations on reaching an important milestone. These resources can help you get your finances and working life off to a great start.
Work item
Updates related article links below about Changing jobs
A job transition means considering how you'll handle employer-sponsored benefits like retirement accounts, along with insurance and other perks.
Work item
Updates related article links below about Job loss
While it may be tempting to reach for retirement assets after losing a job, look for other sources that won't have an impact on your long-term plans.
Work item
Updates related article links below about Starting a business
Starting your own business can be exciting and challenging. Learn the basics of planning, preparing and launching your new endeavor.
Purchasing item
Updates related article links below about Buying a home
Whether you're a first-time buyer or already own a home and are looking to refinance or make a move, there are a lot of financial considerations connected to homeownership. These resources can help.
Purchasing item
Updates related article links below about Buying a car
A job transition means considering how you'll handle employer-sponsored benefits like retirement accounts, along with insurance and other perks.
Purchasing item
Updates related article links below about Saving for a large purchase
Achieving a shorter-term goal like taking a vacation or buying a car calls for a disciplined savings approach. These tips and resources can help you get started.
Investing involves risk including possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.
Footnote 
You have choices about what to do with your 401(k) or other type of plan-sponsored accounts. Depending on your financial circumstances, needs, goals and employer plan terms, you may choose to roll over to an IRA or convert to a Roth IRA, roll over a 401(k) from a prior employer to a 401(k) at your new employer, take a distribution, or leave the account where it is (if applicable). Each choice may offer different investments and services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, tax treatment (particularly with reference to employer stock), and provide different protection from creditors and legal judgments. These are complex choices and should be considered with care. For more information visit our rollover page or call Merrill at 888.637.3343.
Asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
This material should be regarded as educational information on healthcare considerations and is not intended to provide specific healthcare advice. If you have questions regarding your particular situation, please contact your legal or tax advisor.

All guarantees and benefits of the insurance policy are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. They are not backed by Merrill or its affiliates, nor do Merrill or its affiliates make any representations or guarantees regarding the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Long-term care insurance coverage contains benefits, exclusions, limitations, eligibility requirements and specific terms and conditions under which the insurance coverage may be continued in force or discontinued. Not all insurance policies and types of coverage may be available in your state.

MAP8346208-03042027
Connect with us:
LinkedIn popup
X popup
YouTube popup
Connect with us:
LinkedIn popup
X popup
YouTube popup

For broker-assisted trades through Merrill Edge, you will be charged a fee equal to the lower of $29.95 or 5.00% of the principal amount of the transaction. Further, there are indirect fees, such as annual management and other similar fees, that are charged by the manager or sponsor of an exchange-traded fund and of a closed-end fund, as disclosed in the product's prospectus.

Investment products offered through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and insurance and annuity products offered through Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc.:
Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value
Are Not Deposits Are Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency Are Not a Condition to Any Banking Service or Activity

Investing in securities involves risks, and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities.

Asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
The performance data contained herein represents past performance which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. For performance information current to the most recent month end, please contact us.

Net Asset Value (NAV) returns are based on the prior-day closing NAV value at 4 p.m. ET. NAV returns assume the reinvestment of all dividend and capital gain distributions at NAV when paid.

Market price returns are based on the prior-day closing market price, which is the average of the midpoint bid-ask prices at 4 p.m. ET. Market price returns do not represent the returns an investor would receive if shares were traded at other times.

Returns include fees and applicable loads. Since Inception returns are provided for funds with less than 10 years of history and are as of the fund's inception date. 10 year returns are provided for funds with greater than 10 years of history.

Before investing consider carefully the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the fund, including management fees, other expenses and special risks. This and other information may be found in each fund's prospectus or summary prospectus, if available. Always read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before you invest or send money. Prospectuses can be obtained by contacting us.

Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds: Expense Ratio – Gross Expense Ratio is the total annual operating expense (before waivers or reimbursements) from the fund's most recent prospectus. You should also review the fund's detailed annual fund operating expenses which are provided in the fund's prospectus.

Closed End Funds: Expense Ratio – Gross Expense Ratio is the ratio of the fund's total annual operating expense (before waivers or reimbursements) to average net assets as of the date of the fund's most recent annual report. You should also review the fund's detailed annual operating expenses disclosed by the fund in its annual reports, semi-annual reports, and other public filings.

This material is not intended as a recommendation, offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or investment strategy. Merrill offers a broad range of brokerage, investment advisory and other services. Additional information is available in our Client Relationship Summary (Form CRS) (PDF).

Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as "MLPF&S" or "Merrill") makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp."). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC popup and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp.").
Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A. and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp.").

Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc. ("MLLA") is a licensed insurance agency and wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.

Privacy | Security | Site Map | Glossary | Software Requirements | Routing & Executions | Accessible Banking | Advertising practices popupAdvertising Practices popup | Forms & Applications | Legal Information | Business Continuity | Deposit Account & Money Fund Rates (PDF) | Bank of America Newsroom | Client Relationship Summary (Form CRS) (PDF) | 

© 2025 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

4326521