How to Reach Your Retirement Number: Why Not Knowing It Is Costing You Peace of Mind

Feb 19, 2026

One of the biggest sources of money anxiety I see, especially in women in their 40s and beyond, isn’t reckless spending or poor income choices. It’s uncertainty.

Not knowing:

What you’re working towards
Whether you’re “on track”
If you’ll have enough
Or what “enough” even means for you.

When the future feels vague and far away, our brains do what they’re designed to do: focus on what’s urgent right now. Bills. Kids. Work. Life admin. The mental load.
Planning for the future gets pushed aside. Not because you don’t care, but because it feels overwhelming.

That’s why I always come back to this question: What are you actually aiming for (be it lifestyle or a number)?

In this article I'll be talking specifically to the number that you can have as your goal.

Why a Number Changes Everything

Without a number, it’s impossible to know if your current decisions are helping or hurting your future self.

With a number, something powerful happens:

Your money choices become clear and intentional
Trade-offs / decisions feel clearer and easier
Motivation increases
Anxiety decreases.

Clarity creates calm.

Step One: Pick Two Ages

First, identify:

Your current age
The age you’d like to stop working (or significantly slow down)

This isn’t a forever decision, it’s a placeholder. Just pick a number for now.

The difference between those two ages is your time horizon.

Step Two: Know Your Net Worth (Without Judgment)

Your net worth is simply: Everything you own minus everything you owe.

Assets might include:

Property
Savings
Superannuation
Investments

Liabilities include:

Mortgages
Loans
Credit cards.

The result may be positive or negative, and either is okay. Right now, it’s just data. Not a verdict on your worth or capability.

Step Three: Your Retirement Target

A common benchmark for a “comfortable” retirement for a couple is around $75,000–$100,000 per year.

A simple rule of thumb is to multiply this retirement annual income target by 25 years.

For example:

$75,000 × 25 = $1.9 million
$100,000 × 25 = $2.5 million

Again, this is a guide, not a rigid rule.

This is the amount of Net Assets that you would need to have at the age you want to retire.

Step Four: Find the Gap

Subtract your current net worth from your retirement target.

That gap can feel confronting, but remember:

This includes future investment growth
You are not expected to “save” the entire amount
Small changes compound dramatically over time

The goal isn’t panic. The goal is direction.

Take this gap amount and divide it by the number of years until you plan to retire. This is the current annual "gap".

Step Five: Close the Gap Intentionally

Once you can see the gap, you can start closing it, realistically, and sustainably.

This might include:

Optimising income
Reducing invisible spending (subscriptions, eating out, unused expenses)
Using your home loan more strategically
Creating intentional saving “buckets”
Investing consistently, even in small amounts.

Momentum matters more than perfection.

When you start seeing progress, even small wins, confidence builds. And confident people make better money decisions.

Clarity Is an Act of Self-Care

This isn’t about depriving yourself now for some distant future. It’s about creating a life where both your present self and future self are supported.

If you haven’t done this exercise yet, start today. And when you’re ready for something that makes this even easier, I’m building it, and I’d love you to be part of it.

You can join the waitlist for Prosperess at www.moneymadesimple.com.au