Motley Fool Urges 5 Steps for 2031 Retirement by End of 2026

1 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · Jul 10

Five years before a planned 2031 retirement, the report says savers should first test whether their nest egg can cover expected annual spending after Social Security.
Using its example, $80,000 in yearly expenses minus $30,000 in Social Security leaves $50,000 to fund from savings, implying a roughly $1.25 million target under the 25-times rule.
The checklist also calls for paying down high-interest debt and gradually reducing heavy stock exposure to protect savings as retirement nears.
Social Security timing is another key lever: workers born in 1960 or later reach full benefits at 67, while delaying to 70 can lift payments to 124% of that level.
The final step is building a realistic retirement budget that reflects lower work-related costs but potentially higher healthcare and home-repair expenses.