How Tech Sales Professionals Can Build Retirement Savings on Track

In a recent LinkedIn post, Ryan Gomez, CFP® discusses retirement savings benchmarks for account executives (AEs) and the habits he says can help high earners stay on course. This article reports on Gomez’s post and analysis; it was not written by him.

“Most AEs have WAY less than $250k in their 401k.”

Gomez frames the gap between income and retirement savings as a planning challenge for people in tech sales, where compensation can include substantial commissions. He offers age-based savings targets tied to an assumed $200,000 income and a retirement age of 67.

Benchmarks depend on the retirement plan

According to Gomez, the suggested savings milestones range from one times income by age 30 to ten times income by age 67. For his $200,000 example, that translates to $200,000 at 30, $600,000 at 40, $1.2 million at 50, $1.6 million at 60 and $2 million at 67.

“This is assuming you want to work until 67 & earn $200k.”

Gomez cautions that an earlier retirement goal changes the calculations considerably. He also describes the figures as high-level estimates and urges readers to run numbers for their own circumstances. The post presents benchmarks as a starting point, not a personalized retirement projection.

Turning income into consistent saving

Gomez argues that calculating a target is simpler than building a plan and maintaining progress. In his view, three habits distinguish the AEs he works with who are on track:

• Contributing the annual maximum to a 401(k);
• Investing commissions instead of increasing lifestyle spending; and
• Starting early, while checking progress regularly.

He contrasts those behaviors with lifestyle costs rising after each increase in on-target earnings, treating a 401(k) as an afterthought and assuming unusually strong income years will continue. His point is that high compensation alone does not ensure retirement readiness if spending and saving decisions erode the amount invested.

Commissions can help close a shortfall

Gomez also sees tech sales income as a potential advantage for workers who are behind: strong earnings may create room to catch up. But that possibility depends on directing some of the added income toward savings and adapting the plan to the individual’s timeline and financial situation.

“If you’re behind, the best time to catch up is now.”

The post’s central message is to treat retirement saving as an ongoing plan rather than a balance to check occasionally. Gomez encourages readers to assess their own numbers, account for when they want to stop working and revisit progress over time.