If you've ever assumed retirement meant having a seven-figure nest egg, you're in good company — and maybe a little stressed.

For years, Americans have treated the $1 million mark as the gold standard for retiring comfortably. Anything less? Cue the panic attacks.

But according to Northwestern Mutual's just-released 2025 Planning & Progress Study, the average American now believes they need $1.26 million tucked away to retire in peace. That's actually down from $1.46 million last year.

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So if your retirement plan is "hope for the best," you're not alone.

The ‘magic number' to retire comfortably may be down this year, but it's still far beyond what many people actually have. And the gap isn't just wide — it's a canyon. 

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Which raises a fair question—not from a study or expert, just plain observation: Are Americans adjusting the number because they think they can genuinely live on less, or have they just accepted that $1.26 million sounds more reachable than $1.46 million? Maybe this is optimism. Maybe it's financial fatigue. 

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Yes, the goal dipped—but the struggle to reach it hasn't. Americans may be adjusting expectations, but most still have a long way to go before retirement feels anything close to "comfortable."

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