How much of my paycheck should I be investing each month?

A widely used benchmark is to invest at least 15% of your gross income toward retirement, including any employer 401(k) match. If that feels out of reach, start with whatever you can — even 5% — and raise it by one percentage point each year or whenever you get a raise, so you barely feel the change. The order matters too: build a small emergency fund first, capture the full 401(k) match, then push your savings rate up from there. High earners aiming for early retirement often save 25% or more. The exact percentage matters less than starting early and increasing steadily, because time in the market does the heavy lifting. Set the contribution to happen automatically so it's not a monthly decision. Find a target rate for your own goals with our retirement planner at wealthserene.com/tools/retirement-planner.