# Retirees Now Earn $74k Yearly from $1.5M Without Stocks

> Retirees can generate $74,445 annually from $1.5 million in Treasuries before Social Security.
- Title: Retirees Now Earn $74k Yearly from $1.5M Without Stocks
- Summary: Retirees can generate $74,445 annually from $1.5 million in Treasuries before Social Security. Government bonds now provide enough income to cover retirement…
- Keywords: treasury bonds, retirement income, social security, 10-year yield, federal tax, state tax exemption, retirement planning, bond yields, cash markets, equity risk, Retirees, Earn
- Source: 24/7 Wall St. — https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2026/09/21/for-people-going-into-retirement-this-is-a-gift-a-65-year-old-with-1-5-million-can-now-generate-74445-a-year-before-even-thinking-about-social-security
- Author: AJ Tiarsmith
- Published: 2026-09-21T14:08:28+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: treasury bonds, retirement income, social security, 10-year yield, federal tax, state tax exemption, retirement planning, bond yields, cash markets, equity risk
## Treasury Yields Hit 4.96%
The 10-year Treasury yield reached 4.963% on September 21, 2026, generating $74,445 yearly from $1.5 million.

> For people going into retirement, this is a gift. I mean, I can now take one million in my retirement, pick up five percent a year.
## Tina Trade Ends
The 'Tina trade', where savers pushed into stocks for cash, has reversed as cash markets now yield over 3%.

> The Tina trade is now over because the alternative is I can just sit in cash money markets right now and get over three percent.
## Retirees Benefit from Bonds
Retirees can use Treasury bonds to cover up to 70% of income without stock market risk.

> Now I can go buy Treasury bonds at five percent. I've got to make two percent out of my equity side.
## Tax Advantage for Retirees
Treasury interest is exempt from state and local income tax, improving after-tax returns for high-tax states.

> Treasury interest is taxable at the federal level but exempt from state and local income tax.
## How to Use This Opportunity
Retirees should price their income target first, then use current Treasury yields to determine bond needs.

> Write down the annual dollar figure your plan needs from savings, then work backward at today's Treasury yields.
## Why This Matters Now
The 10-year yield is at the top of its recent range, offering the highest returns in over a year.

> The benchmark ten year treasury yield was four point nine four percent on September seventeenth, two thousand twenty six.
## Retirement Strategy Shift
Retirees can reduce equity risk by using Treasuries for income, freeing up capital for lower-risk allocations.

> The equity side can then take less risk to hit the overall goal.
## Key takeaway

Government bonds now provide enough income to cover retirement needs without stock market risk.