# The 10x Salary Retirement Myth Isn't One-Size-Fits-All

Hear this advice everywhere: save 10 times your salary for retirement. Sounds solid, but here's the thing—it's not actually a myth, just wildly incomplete.

Why? Because two people earning $100k might need completely different retirement funds. One travels constantly (needs more), another stays local (needs less).

**The real move**: Forget your salary. Calculate how much *income* you actually need in retirement instead. Most people need about 80% of pre-retirement income, but factor in:
- Less spending: commuting, work wardrobe
- More spending: travel, healthcare
- Inflation eating into your nest egg

**Then use the 4% rule**: If you need $75k yearly, multiply by 25 = $1.875M nest egg target. Withdraw 4% year one, adjust up for inflation after.

Also—10% savings rate? Too vague. Start in your 20s? Might work. Start in your 50s? Way too little.

Smart people stack multiple income streams: Social Security, dividends, annuities, rental income. One source rarely cuts it.

Bottom line: Your retirement number is *personal*. Do the math, don't just follow the rulebook.