Real estate couple can invest $54K/year at 15%
A 28-year-old couple earning $360,000 a year should invest 15% of gross income, equating to $54,000 per year in retirement accounts.
Snapshot · The Ramsey Show
Life Is Complicated. Money Doesn't Have To Be.
Explore episode
Jul 27, 2026
Where this was said
Kyle in Charleston: Real Estate Agent Couple at 28 Making $360K With No Consumer Debt
At 1:58:14 · chapter starts 1:48:18
Kyle's call is the most advanced investing conversation of the episode. At 28, he and his wife make $360,000 in real estate commissions, carry zero consumer debt, and have only a $220,000 mortgage remaining at 2.5%. George walks through the full playbook: backdoor Roth IRAs ($15,000 combined), a solo 401k up to $72,000 total contributions, the moral case for paying off a 2.5% mortgage anyway [1] — George Kamel "At 28, making $360,000 with no consumer debt, the question stops being 'how do I survive?' and starts being 'how do I build?' The answer: b…" 1:54:54 , and eventually buying investment properties for cash [2] — George Kamel "Solo 401k total contribution cap $72K: George Kamel noted that solo 401k total contributions are capped at $72,000 per year, combining both…" 1:59:40 . Then the plot twist: Kyle has no health insurance. George interrupts everything and makes that homework assignment number one — medical bills are a leading cause of bankruptcy [3] — George Kamel "Medical bills are a leading cause of bankruptcy: George Kamel cited medical bills as one of the leading causes of bankruptcy, urging a self…" 2:00:59 . Both hosts are visibly excited by Kyle's financial position and gift him a free Investing Essentials ticket.
28-Year-Old Real Estate Agents Crushing It — Now What?
At 28, making $360,000 with no consumer debt, the question stops being 'how do I survive?' and starts being 'how do I build?' The answer: backdoor Roth, solo 401k up to $72K, attack the mortgage, then buy investment properties for cash.
Solo 401k total contribution cap $72K
George Kamel noted that solo 401k total contributions are capped at $72,000 per year, combining both employee and employer contributions.
Medical bills are a leading cause of bankruptcy
George Kamel cited medical bills as one of the leading causes of bankruptcy, urging a self-employed caller without health insurance to get covered immediately.
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