No, you do not really need $1.26 million to retire

Americans get conflicting suggestions about how much money they need for a comfortable retirement. Here’s what the sound bites don’t tell you.

Every few months, there’s a new story or study or think piece on the exact dollar amount needed to afford retirement. The most recent is Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning & Progress Study, which found that Americans believe they need $1.26 million to retire comfortably.