Interest on $1 million varies significantly by rate, but at common rates (e.g., 4.5% to 5.1% for savings/CDs, higher for riskier investments), you could earn roughly $45,000 to $51,000 annually on safe investments, while riskier assets like stocks might yield more (averaging ~10%, or $100,000) but with more fluctuation. The actual amount depends on the specific interest rate (APR) and compounding frequency.
Summary. $1 million should be enough to see you through your retirement. You can retire at 50 with $1 million in savings and receive a guaranteed annual income of $62,400. Your tax bracket and how much you pay should also be considered when planning how much money you'll need for retirement.
With a deposit of $1 million, you could earn about $50,000 in interest paid at maturity (calculated via Canstar's Term Deposit Calculator). A lower rate, such as 4.50% p.a., would earn $45,000 ($5,000 less).
$500,000 can earn anywhere from a few thousand dollars (e.g., ~$9,000 at 1.8% APY in a money market) to over $25,000 (at higher fixed rates or potential stock market returns), depending heavily on the interest rate (APY) and investment type, from low-risk savings (1-4%) to higher-risk stocks (8-9%+), with rates fluctuating.
But with £1m to invest you might want to consider other asset classes too.
Depending on your balances and where you open your account, your interest rate will vary. As of April 2025, many high-yield savings accounts from online banks offer rates from 4.25% to 4.50%. On a $250,000 portfolio, you'd receive an annual income of $10,625 to $11,250 from one of those accounts.
The safest place to put $1 million dollars would be in a combination of insured bank accounts and conservative investments, such as bonds and CDs, to ensure a balance of liquidity and stability.
Finding a standard savings account with a consistent 7% interest rate is rare in early 2026; however, banks like First Direct and Co-operative Bank (in the UK) offer 7% or higher on regular saver accounts, often tied to specific conditions like monthly deposits and limited withdrawal periods, while U.S. high-yield online banks offer around 4-4.35%, not 7%. For 7%+, you'll typically look at niche products, crypto, or international options, which often come with higher risk or complex conditions, not standard savings.
"You can live off $500,000 in the bank and do nothing else to make money, because you can make off that about 5% in fixed income with very little risk. Or you can make 8.5 to 9% in equities too, if you're willing to ride the volatility."
It's never too early or too late to start investing. Regardless of age, the principles of building a diversified portfolio and maximizing tax advantages remain relevant. Adapt your investment strategy to your life stage, financial goals, and risk tolerance.
According to this rule, if you spend your retirement savings at a rate of 4% the first year and then adjust your withdrawals for inflation every year, your income will probably last three decades. Say you retire with $1 million. Per the 4% rule: In year 1, you would withdraw $40,000.
The top ten financial mistakes most people make after retirement are:
According to this formula, if an investor invests ₹15,000 every month in SIP in mutual funds and continues this investment for 15 years, then at the rate of 15% annual return (CAGR), his fund can eventually reach about ₹1 crore.
Bottom Line. Interest-bearing assets give you access to what's known as “income investing,” meaning that you receive regular payments over time while you hold the product. With $2.5 million to invest, many products will generate enough interest that you can afford to live off just your investments alone.
In the organisation's super balance update, it found 2.5 per cent of the population have a super account of more than $1 million, as of June 2021.
To turn $1 million into passive retirement income, consider options such as annuities, dividend stocks, bonds, real estate or business ventures. Building a well-rounded portfolio with a mix of assets could reduce long-term risk.
The 7 3 2 rule is a financial strategy focused on wealth accumulation. The theme suggests saving your first "crore" (ten million) in seven years, then accelerating the savings to achieve the second crore in three years, and the third crore in just two years.
Safe assets such as U.S. Treasury securities, high-yield savings accounts, money market funds, and certain types of bonds and annuities offer a lower-risk investment option for those prioritizing capital preservation and steady, albeit generally lower, returns.