Retirement Confidence is Built, Not Assumed. Many Americans nearing retirement feel ready, but most haven’t put that confidence into a written plan.
Retirement readiness is about more than confidence. It begins with having a plan, understanding potential risks, and knowing how your savings can generate income throughout retirement.
Why It Matters
Many Americans approaching retirement feel confident about their future, but confidence does not always reflect preparation. While nearly six in ten pre-retirees say they feel highly prepared for retirement, many have not created or updated a written retirement plan.
Key Finding
Retirement confidence often outpaces retirement planning.
- 59 percent of pre-retirees say they feel highly prepared for retirement.
- 76 percent either have no written retirement plan or spent fewer than five hours working on one in the past year.
- Half have no plan or have not updated their plan recently.
What You Should Know
The Three R’s of Retirement Readiness
Readiness
Do you have the financial resources and a current plan to support the retirement you envision?
Resilience
Does your plan account for inflation, healthcare costs, market volatility, and unexpected expenses?
Retirement Income
Do you understand how your savings will generate income throughout retirement?
Research shows that planning behaviors, maintaining a written plan, and working with a financial professional are associated with higher levels of retirement preparedness.
Bottom Line
Retirement confidence is not built on savings alone. It grows through planning, engagement, and a clear understanding of where your retirement income will come from. The good news is that planning is one of the few retirement factors you can control, and even small steps today can help strengthen your readiness for tomorrow.
DOWNLOAD THE RESEARCH REPORTÂ
DOWNLOAD THE RETIREMENT CONFIDENCE GUIDE