45 Jobs That Can Make You a Millionaire Before Retirement
Choosing one of these careers might help you retire rich.
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Becoming a millionaire is a dream harbored by many an American, but it’s also one that precious few manage to reach in their lifetime. After all, with all of the various costs that come with living your life and raising a family, having enough income held back to hit that second comma on your net worth is just not a simple feat. You need the sort of job that’s going to pay well in excess of what it takes to cover your bills.
So which jobs can you expect to do that? To answer the question, GOBankingRates used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine the average salaries of many common jobs. Then, it deducted the cost of federal taxes and the average cost of living from that figure to show how much income one would have left over after covering the basics. Using that figure, the study then calculates how long it will take you to save up that $1 million while making an average salary in the profession. It doesn’t factor in the cost of your education — obviously a major expenditure for many of these, based on their requirements — or how you can grow your savings through investment, but it should still give you a clear sense of how fast someone can stash away money in each job.
45. Air Traffic Controllers
- Annual salary: $120,140
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $91,012
- Annual income after average expenditures: $28,574
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 34 years, 11 months and 20 days
Take a Look: The Best Jobs in America
44. Political Scientists
- Annual salary: $120,260
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $91,094
- Annual income after average expenditures: $28,656
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 34 years, 10 months and 14 days
43. Nuclear Engineers
- Annual salary: $120,700
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $91,394
- Annual income after average expenditures: $28,956
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 34 years, 6 months and 5 days
42. Actuaries
- Annual salary: $120,970
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $91,580
- Annual income after average expenditures: $29,142
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 34 years, 3 months and 15 days
41. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
- Annual salary: $121,620
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $92,024
- Annual income after average expenditures: $29,586
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 33 years, 9 months and 9 days
Find Out: 20 Highest-Paying Jobs That Let You Travel the World
40. Astronomers
- Annual salary: $122,270
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $92,468
- Annual income after average expenditures: $30,030
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 33 years, 3 months and 10 days
39. Optometrists
- Annual salary: $122,980
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $92,953
- Annual income after average expenditures: $30,515
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 32 years, 8 months and 29 days
38. Computer Hardware Engineers
- Annual salary: $123,030
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $92,987
- Annual income after average expenditures: $30,549
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 32 years, 8 months and 16 days
37. General and Operations Managers
- Annual salary: $123,030
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $92,987
- Annual income after average expenditures: $30,549
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 32 years, 8 months and 16 days
36. Training and Development Managers
- Annual salary: $123,470
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $93,289
- Annual income after average expenditures: $30,851
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 32 years, 4 months and 22 days
35. Pharmacists
- Annual salary: $125,510
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $94,682
- Annual income after average expenditures: $32,244
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 30 years, 11 months and 27 days
Career Change? 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job
34. Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Annual salary: $127,460
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $96,015
- Annual income after average expenditures: $33,577
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 29 years, 9 months and 4 days
33. Purchasing Managers
- Annual salary: $128,400
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $96,657
- Annual income after average expenditures: $34,219
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 29 years, 9 months and 14 days
32. Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Annual salary: $128,550
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $96,760
- Annual income after average expenditures: $34,322
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 29 years, 1 month and 10 days
31. Human Resources Managers
- Annual salary: $129,570
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $97,458
- Annual income after average expenditures: $35,020
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 28 years, 6 months and 13 days
30. Law Teachers, Postsecondary
- Annual salary: $129,950
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $97,717
- Annual income after average expenditures: $35,279
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 28 years, 3 months and 28 days
29. Physicists
- Annual salary: $131,080
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $98,489
- Annual income after average expenditures: $36,051
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 27 years, 3 months and 19 days
Read On: It Takes Exactly This Long To Make a Million Dollars in America
28. Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
- Annual salary: $132,630
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $99,549
- Annual income after average expenditures: $37,111
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 26 years, 11 months and 4 days
27. Compensation and Benefits Managers
- Annual salary: $137,210
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $100,629
- Annual income after average expenditures: $38,191
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 26 years, 2 months and 1 day
26. Sales Managers
- Annual salary: $141,690
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $105,989
- Annual income after average expenditures: $43,551
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 22 years, 11 months and 10 days
25. Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Annual salary: $141,890
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $106,139
- Annual income after average expenditures: $43,701
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 22 years, 10 months and 12 days
24. Podiatrists
- Annual salary: $142,680
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $106,727
- Annual income after average expenditures: $44,289
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 22 years, 6 months and 24 days
23. Lawyers
- Annual salary: $145,300
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $108,680
- Annual income after average expenditures: $46,242
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 21 years, 7 months and 10 days
22. Natural Sciences Managers
- Annual salary: $145,450
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $108,792
- Annual income after average expenditures: $46,354
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 21 years, 6 months and 22 days
See: Here’s How 62% of Aspiring Millionaires Plan To Strike It Rich — Will It Work?
21. Financial Managers
- Annual salary: $147,530
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $110,343
- Annual income after average expenditures: $47,905
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 20 years, 10 months and 9 days
20. Marketing Managers
- Annual salary: $149,200
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $111,588
- Annual income after average expenditures: $49,150
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 20 years, 3 months and 30 days
19. Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Annual salary: $152,930
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $114,369
- Annual income after average expenditures: $51,931
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 19 years, 2 months and 29 days
18. Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Annual salary: $156,390
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $116,948
- Annual income after average expenditures: $54,510
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 18 years, 4 months and 1 day
17. Petroleum Engineers
- Annual salary: $156,780
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $117,239
- Annual income after average expenditures: $54,801
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 18 years, 2 months and 26 days
16. Airline Pilots, Copilots and Flight Engineers
- Annual salary: $174,870
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $130,725
- Annual income after average expenditures: $68,287
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 14 years, 7 months and 19 days
Useful Tips: 16 Money Rules That Millionaires Swear By
15. Dentists, All Other Specialists
- Annual salary: $178,040
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $132,901
- Annual income after average expenditures: $70,463
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 14 years, 2 months and 7 days
14. Dentists, General
- Annual salary: $178,260
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $133,047
- Annual income after average expenditures: $70,609
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 14 years, 1 month and 24 days
13. Nurse Anesthetists
- Annual salary: $181,040
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $134,898
- Annual income after average expenditures: $72,460
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 13 years, 9 months and 15 days
12. Pediatricians, General
- Annual salary: $184,410
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $137,140
- Annual income after average expenditures: $74,702
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 13 years, 4 months and 17 days
11. Chief Executives
- Annual salary: $193,850
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $143,422
- Annual income after average expenditures: $80,984
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 12 years, 4 months and 3 days
10. General Internal Medicine Physicians
- Annual salary: $201,440
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $148,474
- Annual income after average expenditures: $86,036
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 11 years, 7 months and 12 days
9. Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists
- Annual salary: $203,450
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $149,811
- Annual income after average expenditures: $87,373
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 11 years, 5 months and 8 days
8. Family Medicine Physicians
- Annual salary: $213,270
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $156,347
- Annual income after average expenditures: $93,909
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 10 years, 7 months and 21 days
Not All Good: The Rich and Famous Reveal Their Struggles at Work — and in Life
7. Psychiatrists
- Annual salary: $220,430
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $161,091
- Annual income after average expenditures: $98,653
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 10 years, 1 month and 15 days
6. Prosthodontists
- Annual salary: $220,840
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $161,352
- Annual income after average expenditures: $98,914
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 10 years, 1 month and 6 days
5. Orthodontists
- Annual salary: $230,830
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $167,700
- Annual income after average expenditures: $105,262
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 9 years, 5 months and 28 days
4. Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Annual salary: $233,610
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $169,467
- Annual income after average expenditures: $107,029
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 9 years, 4 months and 2 days
3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Annual salary: $237,570
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $171,983
- Annual income after average expenditures: $109,545
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 9 years, 1 month and 12 days
2. Surgeons, Except Ophthalmologists
- Annual salary: $252,040
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $181,179
- Annual income after average expenditures: $118,741
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 8 years, 4 months and 30 days
1. Anesthesiologists
- Annual salary: $261,730
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $187,337
- Annual income after average expenditures: $124,899
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 7 years, 11 months and 31 days
More From GOBankingRates
- These Are the Best Banks of 2021 – Did Yours Make the Cut?
- How To Rebound From a Bad Financial Year: 2020 Edition
- Top 100 Banks Leading the U.S. in 2021
- 10 Simple Habits of Money-Smart Individuals
Methodology: To determine the jobs that can make you a millionaire before 65, GOBankingRates analyzed salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; jobs used in this study have the highest mean pay as of May 2019, according to its Occupational Employment Statistics. The study takes the annual salary of each given job, subtracts federal income taxes (FICA and Medicare taxes included) and the average cost of living in the United States, based on average annual expenditure, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ midyear Consumer Expenditure Survey (July 2018 – June 2019); the difference left over is then multiplied by 35, 30 and 25 years in order to find out whether that job will get you past the $1 million threshold. *Note: The majority of these jobs require additional schooling and the cost of schooling is not accounted for in the study. The study assumes that the listed salary is the salary you earn every year for the given year period. All income taxes calculated using in-house calculator using 2020 tax brackets as sourced from the Tax Foundation. All data was collected on and up to date as of June 26, 2020.
About the Author
Joel Anderson
Joel Anderson is a business and finance writer with over a decade of experience writing about the wide world of finance. Based in Los Angeles, he specializes in writing about the financial markets, stocks, macroeconomic concepts and focuses on helping make complex financial concepts digestible for the retail investor.
View All
Becoming a millionaire is a dream harbored by many an American, but it’s also one that precious few manage to reach in their lifetime. After all, with all of the various costs that come with living your life and raising a family, having enough income held back to hit that second comma on your net worth is just not a simple feat. You need the sort of job that’s going to pay well in excess of what it takes to cover your bills.
So which jobs can you expect to do that? To answer the question, GOBankingRates used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine the average salaries of many common jobs. Then, it deducted the cost of federal taxes and the average cost of living from that figure to show how much income one would have left over after covering the basics. Using that figure, the study then calculates how long it will take you to save up that $1 million while making an average salary in the profession. It doesn’t factor in the cost of your education — obviously a major expenditure for many of these, based on their requirements — or how you can grow your savings through investment, but it should still give you a clear sense of how fast someone can stash away money in each job.
45. Air Traffic Controllers
- Annual salary: $120,140
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $91,012
- Annual income after average expenditures: $28,574
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 34 years, 11 months and 20 days
Take a Look: The Best Jobs in America
44. Political Scientists
- Annual salary: $120,260
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $91,094
- Annual income after average expenditures: $28,656
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 34 years, 10 months and 14 days
43. Nuclear Engineers
- Annual salary: $120,700
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $91,394
- Annual income after average expenditures: $28,956
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 34 years, 6 months and 5 days
42. Actuaries
- Annual salary: $120,970
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $91,580
- Annual income after average expenditures: $29,142
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 34 years, 3 months and 15 days
41. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
- Annual salary: $121,620
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $92,024
- Annual income after average expenditures: $29,586
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 33 years, 9 months and 9 days
Find Out: 20 Highest-Paying Jobs That Let You Travel the World
40. Astronomers
- Annual salary: $122,270
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $92,468
- Annual income after average expenditures: $30,030
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 33 years, 3 months and 10 days
39. Optometrists
- Annual salary: $122,980
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $92,953
- Annual income after average expenditures: $30,515
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 32 years, 8 months and 29 days
38. Computer Hardware Engineers
- Annual salary: $123,030
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $92,987
- Annual income after average expenditures: $30,549
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 32 years, 8 months and 16 days
37. General and Operations Managers
- Annual salary: $123,030
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $92,987
- Annual income after average expenditures: $30,549
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 32 years, 8 months and 16 days
36. Training and Development Managers
- Annual salary: $123,470
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $93,289
- Annual income after average expenditures: $30,851
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 32 years, 4 months and 22 days
35. Pharmacists
- Annual salary: $125,510
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $94,682
- Annual income after average expenditures: $32,244
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 30 years, 11 months and 27 days
Career Change? 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job
34. Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Annual salary: $127,460
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $96,015
- Annual income after average expenditures: $33,577
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 29 years, 9 months and 4 days
33. Purchasing Managers
- Annual salary: $128,400
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $96,657
- Annual income after average expenditures: $34,219
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 29 years, 9 months and 14 days
32. Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates
- Annual salary: $128,550
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $96,760
- Annual income after average expenditures: $34,322
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 29 years, 1 month and 10 days
31. Human Resources Managers
- Annual salary: $129,570
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $97,458
- Annual income after average expenditures: $35,020
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 28 years, 6 months and 13 days
30. Law Teachers, Postsecondary
- Annual salary: $129,950
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $97,717
- Annual income after average expenditures: $35,279
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 28 years, 3 months and 28 days
29. Physicists
- Annual salary: $131,080
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $98,489
- Annual income after average expenditures: $36,051
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 27 years, 3 months and 19 days
Read On: It Takes Exactly This Long To Make a Million Dollars in America
28. Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
- Annual salary: $132,630
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $99,549
- Annual income after average expenditures: $37,111
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 26 years, 11 months and 4 days
27. Compensation and Benefits Managers
- Annual salary: $137,210
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $100,629
- Annual income after average expenditures: $38,191
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 26 years, 2 months and 1 day
26. Sales Managers
- Annual salary: $141,690
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $105,989
- Annual income after average expenditures: $43,551
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 22 years, 11 months and 10 days
25. Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Annual salary: $141,890
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $106,139
- Annual income after average expenditures: $43,701
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 22 years, 10 months and 12 days
24. Podiatrists
- Annual salary: $142,680
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $106,727
- Annual income after average expenditures: $44,289
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 22 years, 6 months and 24 days
23. Lawyers
- Annual salary: $145,300
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $108,680
- Annual income after average expenditures: $46,242
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 21 years, 7 months and 10 days
22. Natural Sciences Managers
- Annual salary: $145,450
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $108,792
- Annual income after average expenditures: $46,354
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 21 years, 6 months and 22 days
See: Here’s How 62% of Aspiring Millionaires Plan To Strike It Rich — Will It Work?
21. Financial Managers
- Annual salary: $147,530
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $110,343
- Annual income after average expenditures: $47,905
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 20 years, 10 months and 9 days
20. Marketing Managers
- Annual salary: $149,200
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $111,588
- Annual income after average expenditures: $49,150
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 20 years, 3 months and 30 days
19. Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Annual salary: $152,930
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $114,369
- Annual income after average expenditures: $51,931
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 19 years, 2 months and 29 days
18. Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Annual salary: $156,390
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $116,948
- Annual income after average expenditures: $54,510
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 18 years, 4 months and 1 day
17. Petroleum Engineers
- Annual salary: $156,780
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $117,239
- Annual income after average expenditures: $54,801
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 18 years, 2 months and 26 days
16. Airline Pilots, Copilots and Flight Engineers
- Annual salary: $174,870
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $130,725
- Annual income after average expenditures: $68,287
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 14 years, 7 months and 19 days
Useful Tips: 16 Money Rules That Millionaires Swear By
15. Dentists, All Other Specialists
- Annual salary: $178,040
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $132,901
- Annual income after average expenditures: $70,463
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 14 years, 2 months and 7 days
14. Dentists, General
- Annual salary: $178,260
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $133,047
- Annual income after average expenditures: $70,609
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 14 years, 1 month and 24 days
13. Nurse Anesthetists
- Annual salary: $181,040
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $134,898
- Annual income after average expenditures: $72,460
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 13 years, 9 months and 15 days
12. Pediatricians, General
- Annual salary: $184,410
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $137,140
- Annual income after average expenditures: $74,702
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 13 years, 4 months and 17 days
11. Chief Executives
- Annual salary: $193,850
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $143,422
- Annual income after average expenditures: $80,984
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 12 years, 4 months and 3 days
10. General Internal Medicine Physicians
- Annual salary: $201,440
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $148,474
- Annual income after average expenditures: $86,036
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 11 years, 7 months and 12 days
9. Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists
- Annual salary: $203,450
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $149,811
- Annual income after average expenditures: $87,373
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 11 years, 5 months and 8 days
8. Family Medicine Physicians
- Annual salary: $213,270
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $156,347
- Annual income after average expenditures: $93,909
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 10 years, 7 months and 21 days
Not All Good: The Rich and Famous Reveal Their Struggles at Work — and in Life
7. Psychiatrists
- Annual salary: $220,430
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $161,091
- Annual income after average expenditures: $98,653
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 10 years, 1 month and 15 days
6. Prosthodontists
- Annual salary: $220,840
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $161,352
- Annual income after average expenditures: $98,914
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 10 years, 1 month and 6 days
5. Orthodontists
- Annual salary: $230,830
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $167,700
- Annual income after average expenditures: $105,262
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 9 years, 5 months and 28 days
4. Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Annual salary: $233,610
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $169,467
- Annual income after average expenditures: $107,029
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 9 years, 4 months and 2 days
3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Annual salary: $237,570
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $171,983
- Annual income after average expenditures: $109,545
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 9 years, 1 month and 12 days
2. Surgeons, Except Ophthalmologists
- Annual salary: $252,040
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $181,179
- Annual income after average expenditures: $118,741
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 8 years, 4 months and 30 days
1. Anesthesiologists
- Annual salary: $261,730
- Annual salary after federal taxes: $187,337
- Annual income after average expenditures: $124,899
How long it takes to become a millionaire: 7 years, 11 months and 31 days
More From GOBankingRates
- These Are the Best Banks of 2021 – Did Yours Make the Cut?
- How To Rebound From a Bad Financial Year: 2020 Edition
- Top 100 Banks Leading the U.S. in 2021
- 10 Simple Habits of Money-Smart Individuals
Methodology: To determine the jobs that can make you a millionaire before 65, GOBankingRates analyzed salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; jobs used in this study have the highest mean pay as of May 2019, according to its Occupational Employment Statistics. The study takes the annual salary of each given job, subtracts federal income taxes (FICA and Medicare taxes included) and the average cost of living in the United States, based on average annual expenditure, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ midyear Consumer Expenditure Survey (July 2018 – June 2019); the difference left over is then multiplied by 35, 30 and 25 years in order to find out whether that job will get you past the $1 million threshold. *Note: The majority of these jobs require additional schooling and the cost of schooling is not accounted for in the study. The study assumes that the listed salary is the salary you earn every year for the given year period. All income taxes calculated using in-house calculator using 2020 tax brackets as sourced from the Tax Foundation. All data was collected on and up to date as of June 26, 2020.
About the Author
Joel Anderson
Joel Anderson is a business and finance writer with over a decade of experience writing about the wide world of finance. Based in Los Angeles, he specializes in writing about the financial markets, stocks, macroeconomic concepts and focuses on helping make complex financial concepts digestible for the retail investor.
