Retirement Retirement Planning

Kevin O'Leary Has a 90-Day Rule That Could Boost Your Retirement Savings

The plan can also give you insights about your money habits.

By Catherine Collins , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Oct. 16, 2026

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Kevin O'Leary, the millionaire entrepreneur and star of the hit TV show Shark Tank, frequently gives financial advice in interviews. One concept he teaches is called the 90-day number rule.

Here's what the 90-day rule entails, why it's important, and how it can be a good step for anyone who wants to contribute more to their retirement plan.

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What is Kevin O'Leary's 90-day rule?

O'Leary's 90-day number rule is a system he developed that helps people know whether or not they're living below their means.

He says to add up your income and expenses over the last 90 days and take a close look at your results. The goal is to see if you have enough cash flow to increase your retirement account contributions.

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Why O'Leary recommends a 90-day review window

O'Leary recommends a 90-day budget review window because it gives people the opportunity to account for small emergencies, income fluctuations, and even seasonal spending. Some months are lean, while others are just more expensive.

Averaging your income and expenses over 90 days gives you a more accurate view of the true cost of your lifestyle than a shorter period of time does.

How to analyze your 90-day number

Adding up your income and expenses over a 90-day period is only the first part of the process. The real information comes when you analyze your numbers.

O'Leary says that if you have a positive number, meaning you make more than you spend, then you have available cash to allocate towards investing for retirement. If you have a negative number, it means you might need to take steps to cut back on your spending, like going out to eat less or holding off on some home upgrades.

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High-interest debt could be hurting your cash flow

If you're looking for ways to improve a negative number after your 90-day review, O'Leary recommends paying down high-interest debt.

Reducing the amount of minimum payments you have to make can improve cash flow and make your retirement years more comfortable. Because the average credit card interest rate is just under 21%, paying down debt is also one of the best returns you can get on your money.

Use a surplus for savings and investments

While O'Leary frequently discusses the importance of increasing retirement plan contributions, he's also a proponent of having an emergency fund. O'Leary says having three to six months of living expenses set aside is an important part of being financially disciplined.

This is especially important for retirees, as having an emergency fund can prevent you from withdrawing money from your 401(k) during a down market. It also helps people avoid going into credit card debt, especially after they've paid off high-interest debt.

Social Security may not be enough to live on

O'Leary stresses that Social Security was never meant to be the only income source in retirement. The average Social Security check in America is just over $2,000 a month, which isn't enough to cover living expenses for most people. That's why it's helpful to complete O'Leary's 90-day plan to see where you stand from a cash flow perspective before retirement.

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Take an active approach to your retirement

Many people invest money on autopilot through their work-sponsored plan. They assume that they'll eventually have enough money for retirement and are sometimes overconfident about their ability to retire on time. Retirement accounts are not something that you should set up and then forget about.

O'Leary encourages people to take an active approach to their finances, especially when it comes to managing spending so that people can allocate more money towards their retirement goals.

Of course, how much people will be able to contribute to their retirement accounts will ultimately depend on several factors, including their income, whether or not they get an employer match, and their financial habits overall.

O'Leary says that discipline is key to creating wealth

Ultimately, O'Leary says that to build wealth, people should invest consistently over a long period of time.

He is a huge proponent of developing financial discipline, taking advantage of employer matches, monitoring spending, and making a long-term plan to achieve retirement goals.

Bottom line

O'Leary's 90-day rule can help you free up your retirement budget in the future by showing you your spending patterns now. By completing the 90-day plan, you'll be able to see whether or not you spend more than you make.

If you do have positive cash flow, increasing retirement plan contributions could set you up for retirement later.

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