I'm 36 years old with no savings at all. How far behind am I?
Feb 18, 2026
While we adhere to strict editorial guidelines, partners on this page may provide us earnings.
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About 38.5% of American households in the 35-44 age bracket don't have retirement accounts, according to the Federal Reserve.
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It’s not too late to secure a comfortable retirement. Start small by automatically saving your spare change with Acorns.
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Invest in assets with potential for long-term growth. For example, you can own real estate through the Fundrise Flagship Fund for as little as $10.
You want to save. You try to save. But…
…somewhere in your mid‑30s, life has a way of making it feel impossible — rising costs, flat wages, student loans, child care, and a stack of bills that swallow your paycheck before you even touch it.
You’re not alone.
About 38.5% of American households aged 35-44 have no retirement accounts at all, according to the 2022 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. Even among those who have opened retirement accounts, the median balance is just $45,000.
It’s a sobering snapshot, but it’s not too late.
Your highest-earning years are still ahead of you, so here are six concrete steps you can take to start catching up.
Step 1: Pay down high-interest debt
Credit cards and other high‑interest debts can trap you in a cycle that’s hard to escape. Even Warren Buffett, the 10th‑wealthiest person in the world, once warned, “If I borrowed money at 18% or 20%, I'd be broke.”
American adults now collectively carry more than $1.23 trillion in credit card debt, according to the Federal Reserve. How do you get out of this debt hole?
Many financial “rules of thumb,” such as saving 2x your annual salary by age 35, assume a perfect world: steady income, no major setbacks, no debt, and the ability to start saving aggressively in your early 20s. But real life rarely works that way.
If you’re dealing with very high interest rates, consolidating your debt can be a smart first move.
Consolidating all your debts into a single personal loan through Credible is an effective way to pay down your debt faster. Instead of juggling multiple monthly payments, you'll have one predictable payment to manage each month.
Credible’s online marketplace simplifies the entire process. With just a few clicks, you can compare personalized rates from multiple lenders side‑by‑side and quickly identify the most affordable option for your situation.
In less than three minutes, you’ll see all the lenders willing to help pay off your credit cards or other debts with a single, more affordable personal loan.
If you still owe a substantial amount, especially north of $30,000, you may want to see if you qualify for a debt relief program to help clear a significant portion of your debt.
With Freedom Debt Relief, you can speak with a certified debt relief consultant for free, who can walk you through potential savings and explain how their process works.
If you're eligible, they can negotiate settlements directly with your creditors until all of your enrolled debt is resolved.
Step 2: Start automatically investing every month
Once your high‑interest debt is under control, the next step is building a system that steadily grows your wealth. A big part of that is avoiding lifestyle creep — when your income rises, increasing your investing contributions instead of your spending can make an enormous difference over time.
If you’re new to investing or want something effortless, Acorns is a great place to start. It automatically rounds up your everyday purchases and invests the spare change into a diversified portfolio.
Automatic investing can help you stay consistent. When money moves into your investments on a set schedule, you don’t have to think about timing or motivation.
For example, if you buy movie popcorn for $7.50, Acorns will round up to $8.00 and automatically save the 50 cents. These small amounts can add up significantly — just $2.50 in daily round-ups could accumulate to $900 per year, helping you boost your savings without even noticing.
That’s robo‑investing: the platform handles the decisions, rebalancing and long‑term strategy for you.
Plus, if you sign up now with a recurring deposit, you can get a $20 bonus investment.
If you prefer more control, a self‑directed trading account through SoFi Invest lets you choose your own stocks, ETFs, or other assets.
This DIY approach lets you trade with no commission fees, and for a limited time, you can get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account.
Just make sure you still set up automatic monthly contributions. The goal is to create a system that runs quietly in the background, grows with your income, and keeps you moving forward month after month.
Step 3: Fix your cash flow
Improving your cash flow isn’t just about cutting back on obvious expenses — it’s about plugging the quiet leaks you barely notice. Those “set‑and‑forget” costs like phone plans, internet packages, streaming bundles, and recurring app charges add up faster than most people realize.
And while many focus on rent, groceries, or monthly subscriptions, some of the biggest savings often come from the bills you revisit only once or twice.
Car insurance has been climbing steadily. Between 2020 and 2024, motor vehicle insurance costs rose by an astonishing 54%, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Many drivers stick with the same provider for years without realizing their rates have crept up.
Comparing costs once a year can uncover meaningful savings, and switching takes far less effort than most people expect.
OfficialCarInsurance.com lets you compare quotes from trusted brands — including Progressive, Allstate and GEICO — to make sure you're getting the best deal. The free tool takes into account your location, vehicle details, and driving history to find you the lowest possible rate.
The process is 100% free and won’t affect your credit score. In just a few clicks, you could pay as little as $29 a month.
Step 4: Prioritize your saving goals
By your mid‑30s, you’re likely juggling several big goals at once — maybe raising a young family, planning for a home, or building a real emergency cushion. The key is to be intentional about where your money goes.
This is where sinking funds become essential. Instead of treating every expense as a surprise, you set aside small amounts consistently for the things you know are coming:
- Emergency fund
- Child care expenses
- A home downpayment
- Car repairs
- Travel
Breaking these goals into monthly contributions makes them manageable.
For the cash you’re setting aside for short-term goals, stash it in a high-yield savings or cash account to make sure you're still earning a meaningful return.
For example, a Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base variable APY of 3.30%, and new clients can get an extra 0.75% during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total variable APY of 4.05%¹.
That’s ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s January report².
With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, Wealthfront Cash Account balances of up to $8 million are insured by the FDIC through program banks.
Step 5: Think beyond the stock market
Once you’ve built a steady investing habit, the next step is to expand your portfolio so you’re not relying on a single source of growth.
You can start considering adding other passive income sources, such as real estate and rental property, to augment your annual earnings.
Most of the world’s most successful investors know that investing in real estate is one of the smartest choices for long-term growth. But did you know it is still possible to build your portfolio without having to play landlord or forking over a huge down payment?
The Fundrise Flagship Fund¹ is a $1 billion private real estate fund that lets you invest in an expertly crafted strategy without needing hundreds of thousands of dollars. You don’t need to be an accredited investor, and you can get started with as little as $10.
With 4,700+ single-family homes and 2,500+ residential units owned by the Fundrise Flagship Fund, you get exposure to institutional-style scale and diversification.
Industrial
215 Interchange
Las Vegas, NV
Build-for-rent
Pine Ridge
Fountain Inn, SC
Build-for-rent
Omnia
Richmond Hill, GA
These are a few examples of properties powering the Fundrise Flagship Fund. For a full list of the Fundrise Flagship Fund's portfolio properties, see the Flagship Fund website.
After you place your first investment, the Fundrise Flagship Fund will work to find and add new assets to your portfolio over time and send you transparent updates along the way.
It only takes a few minutes to sign up now and become a real estate investor today.
Step 6: Make a plan for retirement — and stick to it
Retirement planning in your mid‑30s isn’t about having everything figured out — it’s about choosing a direction and committing to it.
Once your debt is under control, your investments are automated, and your savings goals are organized, the final step is building a long‑term strategy you can follow through every market cycle.
A strong retirement plan includes both traditional market investing and assets that protect your future purchasing power. This is where gold shines.
In times of uncertainty — whether driven by tariffs, inflation, or geopolitical tensions — investors often seek refuge in gold. The precious metal has surged past $4,600 and is up 71.04% compared to the same time last year. Silver has also skyrocketed, gaining over 79% year-to-date.
If you're bullish on gold, there's no need to visit a bullion dealer. One way to invest in gold and gain significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA through Priority Gold.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account. This combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of gold, making it an attractive option for those seeking to protect their retirement savings from economic uncertainties.
If you’d like to convert an existing IRA into a gold IRA, Priority Gold offers 100% free rollover, as well as free shipping and free storage for up to five years. Qualifying purchases will also receive up to $10,000 in free silver.
To learn more about how Priority Gold can help you reduce inflation’s impact on your nest egg, download their free 2026 gold investor bundle.
If you want more guidance or a second set of eyes on your investment mix and long‑term strategy, working with a financial advisor is worth considering. An advisor can also help you adjust your plan as your income grows, your family situation changes, or your goals evolve.
The key is to find the right advisor for your specific needs. A trusted, pre-screened financial advisor, for instance, can help you develop a solid investment strategy, adjust your plan as life changes, and stay on track year after year.
Advisor.com also connects you with an experienced, qualified financial professional in your local area who can provide personalized guidance.
¹ The Base Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is 3.30%, as of 01/30/26, and is subject to change. If you are eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.05% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the three-month promotional period. The Cash Account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront is not a bank. The Base APY is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where it earns the variable base APY and is eligible for FDIC insurance. Instant withdrawals may be limited by your receiving firm and other factors. Investment advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.
² Based on the national average interest rate for savings accounts as posted on FDIC.gov, as of January 22, 2026.
³Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus. Read them carefully before investing. This marketing was vetted by the Moneywise team and sponsored by the Fundrise Flagship Fund.
Phil is a writer at Moneywise, bringing a strong background in public relations, financial communications and copywriting. Educated in Cambridge, U.K., he has created content for several blue-chip companies, combining clarity with strategic insight.
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