Many people hope to retire with $1 million in savings, but how long will it really last? The answer can depend on your retirement age, life expectancy and the kind of lifestyle you plan to live. For some people, $1 million may be more than enough for a comfortable retirement. For others, it might not be enough. Here are 3 hypothetical examples of $1 million in retirement:Example #1: You have $1 million in savings and earn a 6% annual return. Assuming you’re in the 24% tax bracket and withdraw $5,000 per month, your savings should last just over 30 years.Example #2: Your $1 million in savings earns a 5% annual return. With the same tax bracket and monthly withdrawal amount, you’d run out of money in 26 years.Example #3: You earn a 7% annual return, but you’re in the 32% tax bracket and withdraw $6,000 a month from your savings. At that pace, you’d have enough savings to last 23 years.These examples are purely hypothetical and don’t take inflation into account, annual increases in your withdrawal rate, or any changes to your federal tax bracket. Consulting a financial advisor can be a great first step to helping make sure you’re on track to meet your retirement goals. That’s why we created a free tool to help match you with vetted financial advisors.  It’s never too late to plan to work toward a comfortable retirement. Try SmartAsset’s no-cost tool to find vetted financial advisors serving your area, each legally bound to work in your best interest. Get your financial advisor matches today. Try SmartAsset’s Financial Advisor Matching Tool Hire a pro. Find and compare vetted financial advisors serving your area, each legally bound to work in your best interest.Get Started This is not an offer to buy or sell any security or interest. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Working with an adviser may come with potential downsides such as payment of fees (which will reduce returns). Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. There are no guarantees that working with an adviser will yield positive returns. The existence of a fiduciary duty does not prevent the rise of potential conflicts of interest. SmartAsset.com is not intended to provide legal advice, tax advice, accounting advice or financial advice (Other than referring users to third party advisers registered or chartered as fiduciaries (“Adviser(s)”) with a regulatory body in the United States). The article and opinions in this publication are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you consult your accountant, tax, or legal advisor with regard to your individual situation.   SmartAsset Advisors, LLC (“SmartAsset”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Financial Insight Technology, is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser. SmartAsset’s services are limited to referring users to third party advisers registered or chartered as fiduciaries (“Adviser(s)”) with a regulatory body in the United States that have elected to participate in our matching platform based on information gathered from users through our online questionnaire. SmartAsset receives compensation from Advisers for our services. SmartAsset does not review the ongoing performance of any Adviser, participate in the management of any user’s account by an Adviser or provide advice regarding specific investments.   We do not manage client funds or hold custody of assets, we help users connect with relevant financial advisors. Sources: 1. “The Value of a Financial Advisor: What’s It Really Worth?” SmartAsset (Nov. 2024)

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Additional Reading from MarketBeat Media

3 Biotech Stocks That Look Like “Sure-Fire” Winners in 2026

Reported by Chris Markoch. Publication Date: 1/20/2026. 

Quick Look

• Eli Lilly leads the GLP-1 market while advancing late-stage drugs in Alzheimer’s, oncology, and cardiovascular disease.
• Viking Therapeutics offers a high-upside GLP-1 challenger supported by strong trial data and institutional ownership.
• Biogen provides exposure to neurodegenerative disease breakthroughs at a valuation below its historical averages.

The words “sure-fire” and biotechnology stocks rarely go together. This sector carries higher-than-average risk: success often hinges on clinical trial results, regulatory decisions, and the ability to scale approved drugs. Even promising programs can fail or face delays.

Still, it only takes a single FDA approval to generate huge returns. Many biotech names begin as penny stocks, so backing a winner can feel like buying a lottery ticket—and that potential upside keeps investors hunting for opportunities in the space.

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At first glance the three names below may seem conservative for growth investors. But for the reasons that follow, each could offer meaningful upside in 2026.

Eli Lilly: The Large-Cap Anchor With More Growth to Come

The first name on this list is Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY). As the leader in the growing GLP-1 market, Lilly is dominating two of the largest drug markets in the world: obesity and diabetes.

Zepbound and Mounjaro alone justify Lilly’s inclusion. Demand for GLP-1 therapies continues to exceed supply, and obesity treatments are likely to be long-term prescriptions rather than short-lived fads—expanding Lilly’s total addressable market. If you want exposure to one of the biggest medical trends of the decade, LLY is hard to ignore.

The case for LLY is further strengthened by late-stage candidates in Alzheimer’s disease, oncology, and cardiovascular disease.

LLY stock traded for over $1,000 a share as of Jan. 16, which may be out of reach for some investors. Even so, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio near 50x—levels it has exceeded before—analysts still forecast earnings growth of more than 32% this year, which could support a higher stock price over time.

Viking Therapeutics: A Mid-Cap Stock That Could Be a Worthy Challenger

If LLY feels too expensive, Viking Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VKTX) is an alternative to consider. The company has both oral and injectable GLP-1 candidates in late-stage trials, and early data have shown eye-catching weight-loss results.

There’s no clear heir apparent to Lilly today, but the market needs additional GLP-1 options. Viking could fill that gap, and if its candidates clear clinical hurdles the company could become an acquisition target.

Analysts have a consensus price target of $87.14 on VKTX stock—about a 155% increase from its closing price on Jan. 16. That optimism is also reflected in institutional ownership, which exceeds 70% and suggests strong interest from professional investors.

Biogen: May Be on the Brink of Breakthroughs for High-Impact Diseases

Beyond GLP-1s, many investors are looking for the next major innovation—particularly treatments for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, where unmet need remains enormous.

Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) offers direct exposure to that opportunity. The company has multiple neurodegenerative candidates in its pipeline, and a single successful program could generate substantial returns for shareholders.

BIIB stock is up roughly 16% over the past 12 months, largely driven by a 14% gain in the three months ending Jan. 16. Analysts see additional upside, with a consensus price target of $190.50, about 15% above the current price. At roughly 10x forward earnings, Biogen also appears attractively valued for the year ahead.

These three names provide different ways to participate in biotech: a large-cap leader with established products, a mid-cap challenger aiming to capture market share, and a company focused on high-impact neurodegenerative therapies. As always, investors should weigh the sector’s inherent risks, time horizons, and their own risk tolerance before investing.

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