Prior to his divorce at 36, retirement had been the last thing on Ryan’s mind.
But the split changed everything. It drained most of his savings, piled up legal fees, and left the financial future he thought he was building in tatters. Now, Ryan is staring at his bank balance and wondering whether retirement is even realistic anymore.
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It’s a common fear, but the numbers suggest Ryan is far from alone.
According to the most recent data (1) from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, the median retirement savings for Americans ages 35 to 44 is just $45,000. That is far less than most people assume their peers have tucked away. Worse yet, nearly four in 10 non-retirees (2) had zero tax-preferred retirement savings.
The good news? At 36, Ryan still has time on his side. With nearly three decades to go before the traditional retirement age of 65, compound growth can still do the heavy lifting.
If you are starting over from scratch, here are some ways to rebuild your wealth.
Lock in an emergency fund first
Before you worry about maximizing your 401(k) or IRA, you need foundational stability. An emergency fund is your financial shield against inevitable curveballs.
A 2025 Federal Reserve report (3) exposed a stark reality: more than a third of U.S. adults would struggle to cover a sudden $400 expense with cash. Without a cash cushion, you risk relying on high-interest credit cards or raiding your investments when life throws a surprise your way.
As a general rule of thumb, financial planners recommend saving three to six months of essential expenses in an emergency fund. If that feels impossible right now, aim smaller. Secure your first $1,000.
That milestone alone creates immediate breathing room and psychological momentum.
Read More: Non-millionaires can now hoard property like the 1% — how to start with as little as $100
Put your retirement on autopilot
Once your emergency fund is stable, your next move is to remove human emotion from investing. Automation is the single most effective wealth-building tool available.
Industry data (4) shows that workers enrolled automatically in workplace retirement plans save at dramatically higher rates than those who have to opt in manually. If you don’t see the money hit your checking account, you won’t miss it.
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