Feb 26, 2025
America’s Social Security program is both popular and woefully underfunded.
Experts have been warning that the social safety net millions of Americans rely on is on the verge of fraying. Now, personal finance author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins is calling on people of all ages to start weaving their own safety net.
Advertisement
"Time to get your head out of the sand and do some easy number crunching to find out where you are and where you need to be," his website advises.
"Remember this: Anticipation is the ultimate power. Losers react; leaders anticipate."
Robbins might be preaching to the choir. According to the AARP, 74% of Americans believe Social Security will not provide enough to live on during their retirement. Two-thirds of them also consider the monthly benefits too low to live on.
If you share these concerns, here’s what you can do to secure your financial future.
Craft your own financial security plan
Since Social Security payments are likely to be insufficient, creating your own independent nest egg seems like an obvious solution. Robbins recommends setting a target to save at least 20 times your annual living expenses to fund a comfortable retirement.
On average, U.S. adults currently believe the “magic number” to retire comfortably is $1.46 million, according to the Northwestern Mutual 2024 Planning & Progress Study. This estimate is 15% higher than in 2023, even though Americans’ average retirement savings dropped to $88,400 in 2024, down nearly $1,000 from $89,300 in 2023 .
Simply put, most Americans know they need to be saving and know how much they need to save but are failing to actually act and accumulate cash.
A relatively simple savings and investment plan should help you stay ahead of the game. The average U.S. household income in 2023 was $80,610.
Advertisement
If you’re in your mid-30s and you have that kind of income, you can reach the $1.46 million milestone within 31 years by putting away 10% of that income ($8,000 a year or $666 a month) and investing it in a low-cost index fund that has historically delivered a 10% annual return.
If your retirement is less than 30 years off, or you're struggling to save because of debt and the cost of living, consider moving somewhere where the cost of living is lower.
Must Read
- You can now build wealth like a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to chase down rent or take 3 A.M tenant calls
- Goldman Sachs used to hoard prime real estate deals for the ultrarich. Two ex-analysts just opened the door for $250
- Robert Kiyosaki begs investors not to miss this ‘explosion’ — says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year
Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
Retire abroad
Given the rising cost of living, lackluster Social Security benefits and lack of retirement savings, it’s easy to see why many Americans find it more appealing to retire abroad.
As of 2024, 21% of Americans said they would like to move abroad, up from just 10% in 2011, according to a Gallup poll. Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration recently reported that more than 760,000 retirees were collecting their benefits while living overseas.
Moving to a country with reasonable quality of life and lower costs of living, such as Japan, Panama, Portugal or Greece could be a solution for those struggling to beat the ongoing retirement crisis.
Push for change
Despite its flaws and insufficiencies, Americans broadly support the Social Security program and want their government to salvage it.
A January 2025 poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found two-thirds of Americans believe the government is spending “too little” on the Social Security program. An AARP survey found 85% of Americans support salvaging the program even if it means higher taxes for everyone.
According to the National Institute on Retirement Security, 87% of U.S. adults said the program’s funding should be a top priority for elected officials, regardless of the nation’s fiscal situation.
Given the program’s popularity, taxpayers should consider reaching out to members of Congress to push for funding reform.
You May Also Like
- Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s what it is and the simple steps to fix it ASAP
- Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how
- Millionaires under 43 are reshaping investing — just 25% of their portfolios are in stocks. Here’s where their money is going
- Robert Kiyosaki issues grim warning for baby boomers. Many could be ‘wiped out’ and homeless ‘all over’ the country. How to protect yourself now
Vishesh Raisinghani is a financial journalist covering personal finance, investing and the global economy. He's also the founder of Sharpe Ascension Inc., a content marketing agency focused on investment firms. His work has appeared in Moneywise, Yahoo Finance!, Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine and Piggybank.
