Net Worth Series 30s: How Much Should You Have at the Age of 30 – 39

In this net worth series, I will share the net worth that a person in an age bracket (by decade) should have. We have discussed net worth for the 20s in the previous post (click here to read). In this post, we will talk about the desired net worth of a person in the 30s.

Data source

Before we begin, let me explain the sources of my data. As I could not find the exact data for Malaysians’ net worth, I decided to use the EPF Basic Savings table as an approximation (click here for the table). However, the basic savings are intended to provide RM 1,000 per month for a period of 20 years, which I think is not enough. Thus, I am going to double the amount of the basic savings as the desired net worth.

Besides that, I am also going to share the income level by age group. The data that I use comes from Employee Wages Statistics (Formal Sector) Report for the third quarter of 2023. You can access the report by clicking here.

Keep in mind that this is based on my personal opinion and it just serves as a reference only. So, let’s start now.

Net worth series 30s

According to the EPF Basic Savings table, the recommended savings at age 30 is RM 35,000 and at age 39 is RM 80,000. The mean is RM 55,700 while the median is RM 54,500. I will take the mean as the amount is higher, so the net worth that a person in 30s should have would be twice of RM 55,700, which is RM 114,000.

Net worth is your total assets minus total liabilities (click here to learn more about net worth). Thus, after deducting all the debts, a person in 30s should have RM 114,000 under his/her name. However, as this is an average number, I will provide a range here. The range is from RM 70,000 to RM 160,000. If you are in your 30s and your net worth is within this range, you are on target. It would be better if your net worth is at least RM 114,000. You excel if your net worth is more than RM 160,000 before 40 years old.

Income level at 30s

Now, we shall move to the income. According to the report from Department of Statistics Malaysia, the median monthly wages for age group of 30 – 34 is RM 2,882 and for age group of 35 – 39 is RM 3,227. Thus, the income level for 30s ranges from RM 2,882 to RM 3,227 per month, translating to annual income of RM 34,584 to RM 38,724.

In my opinion, a person in his/her 20s should have one time his/her annual income as net worth; thrice in 30s; quintuple in 40s; and seven times in 50s. However, this is just my personal opinion and I will explain my rationale below.

As a person in the 30s has worked for some years, he/she is approaching the peak earning years and should have accumulated some assets during his/her 20s. Nonetheless, as most people start a family during this decade, their commitments also increase. Thus, I think a net worth of thrice his/her annual income is feasible. Based on the figures above, the ideal net worth for 30s is between RM 103,752 to RM 116,172.

Savvy financial moves during your 30s

Hopefully, you spent some of your 20s establishing good credit and healthy financial habits, like budgeting, setting aside emergency funds, and beginning your retirement savings. As you transition into your 30s, now is the time to build on that solid financial foundation.

Some financial moves to take include:

1. Rethink your budget.

2. Continue paying down debt.

3. Check the balance on your emergency fund.

4. Start investing or update your investment portfolio periodically.

5. Reevaluate your insurance needs.

6. Avoid lifestyle inflation.

7. Supercharge your retirement fund.

8. Create an estate plan.

Conclusion

One key to building net worth during this life stage is continuing to prioritise saving and investing. It can be easy for higher earnings to get swallowed up in mortgage and car payments, child-rearing expenses and splurging on a few luxuries like nice vacations and fancy dinners. Instead, it is important to maintain the saving and investing disciplines that were established in the previous decade and even increase the percentage of income saved.

With a target and a plan, you will be able to achieve your target net worth. For a start, you may aim for the lower end of the figures above, RM 70,000 and slowly increase it to RM 160,000 (my own calculation).

The next article in this series will be about net worth in 40s.

How can a financial planner help you?

I can help you to clarify your financial goals and objectives, and also set your net worth target together. We will also develop a plan to reach your goals and objectives, including your net worth target. This normally involves saving and investing. Furthermore, I will also help with your tax planning to reduce your tax liability. Depending on your situation, we may also work together in other areas of your finances, such as debt management and estate planning.

If you are interested in working with me to plan for your finances, just leave your details by clicking the button below. I will reach out to you and see if we would be a good fit for each other.

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Disclaimer: This post is for informational purpose only. You should use judgment and conduct due diligence before taking any action or implementing any plan suggested or recommended in this article.