How Much Net Worth Do You Need to Retire in the Top 1%? (2026 Real Numbers)"

The top 1% retiree in 2026 has a net worth around $28 million — but for most affluent households, that's the wrong scoreboard entirely. If you're 60+ with $1 million or more saved and want to know whether your investments, taxes, and income plan are actually working together, learn about our process here: 👉 FREE: Download our 15 Retirement Planning Checklists — the ones we use with clients → https://www.covenantwealthadvisors.co... 🗓️ Prefer to talk now? Free strategy session: https://www.covenantwealthadvisors.co... Check out our Covenant Wealth Advisors Youtube Channel → / ⁨‪@covenantwealthadvisors‬ ======================= In this video, I break down the real net worth numbers for top 1%, top 10%, and top 25% retirees in 2026 (using Federal Reserve data), and show you why the planning game completely changes once you cross into the top 10% — even if you're nowhere near $28 million. I'm Mark Fonville, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CEO of Covenant Wealth Advisors in Richmond, Virginia. After working with hundreds of affluent retirees, here's what most people miss: a percentile tells you where you rank. A plan tells you what to do next. We'll cover: ✔ The 2026 retiree wealth pyramid — median, top 25%, top 10%, and top 1% net worth (ages 65-74) ✔ Why the gap between top 10% (~$3.8M) and top 1% (~$28M) is a different planet — and what it means for your plan ✔ Two case studies: Tom & Linda (top 10%) vs. David & Susan (top 1%) — and the very different tax problems each face ✔ How RMDs at 73/75, IRMAA Medicare surcharges, and the 2-year lookback create non-optional taxable income ✔ The Surviving Spouse Problem — why the biggest tax shock often arrives after the first spouse dies ✔ The Bridge Years window between retirement and RMDs — and why this is the most valuable tax-planning window of your life ✔ Why control — not percentile rank — is the real goal for affluent retirees ▶ WATCH NEXT The Roth Conversion Window — the same Bridge Years opportunity both case-study couples are sitting in right now:    • Roth IRA Conversion Strategy: How to Fill ...   ▶ CHAPTERS: 0:00 The Top 1% Retiree Number for 2026 0:22 The Better Question Most Retirees Miss 1:11 What "Total Household Net Worth" Really Means 2:24 How These Wealth Estimates Were Built 3:22 Net Worth by Percentile: Ages 65-74 5:12 Why the Top 1% Number Is Misleading 5:58 Case Study: Tom & Linda ($3.8M, Top 10%) 7:33 Top 10% vs. Top 1%: How Wealth Is Structured 9:43 Case Study: David & Susan ($28M, Top 1%) 11:17 RMDs, IRMAA & The Tax Chain Reaction 13:58 The Surviving Spouse Tax Trap 15:49 Bridge Years: Your Biggest Planning Window 📌 DATA SOURCES Net worth figures derived from the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, rolled forward to 2026 using the Fed's Z.1 Financial Accounts data. IRMAA tier estimates based on published Medicare guidance. ⚠ DISCLOSURE Mark Fonville, CFP® is the CEO of Covenant Wealth Advisors, a registered investment advisor. Registration of an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The case studies (Tom & Linda, David & Susan) are hypothetical and used for illustrative purposes only. Consult a qualified financial professional regarding your specific situation.