Updated
Updated · AOL · Aug 18
MoneyLion Ranks West Virginia No. 1 for 2026 Retirement Readiness as Hawaii Tops $2.2 Million Need
Updated
Updated · AOL · Aug 18

MoneyLion Ranks West Virginia No. 1 for 2026 Retirement Readiness as Hawaii Tops $2.2 Million Need

1 articles · Updated · AOL · Aug 18

Summary

  • West Virginia led MoneyLion’s 2026 retirement-readiness ranking, ahead of Mississippi and Iowa, while Hawaii ranked last with an estimated $2,229,392 needed to retire.
  • MoneyLion put the national average retirement nest egg at $927,034, versus average annual living costs of $61,432 and average Social Security income of about $24,351.
  • Sixteen states require more than $1 million in savings, including Massachusetts at $1,661,146, California at $1,549,033 and New York at $1,306,377.
  • Lower-ranked states were generally dragged down by high housing and living costs, while the study also flagged state tax burdens above 9% in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Washington.
  • The ranking weighted minimum savings needs most heavily, then cost of living and state-local taxes, with Social Security taxation a smaller factor, using data current through July 29, 2026.

Insights

Will relocating to a tax-friendly state actually save your retirement, or are hidden healthcare costs waiting to drain your savings?
Could relying on the traditional 4% withdrawal rule secretly doom your financial security in today's volatile housing market?