-
EBRI Survey Finds Retirement Confidence at Its Lowest Point Since 2017
- April 23, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
No Comments
The 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey, conducted jointly by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald Research, finds that Americans are less confident about retirement than at any point since 2017. Both workers and retirees reported declining confidence, driven by a combination of rising costs, growing debt burdens, healthcare expenses, and deepening concern about the future of Social Security and Medicare. Workers are also finding it harder to handle financial emergencies, with emergency savings readiness slipping from prior years. At the same time, a gap persists between when workers expect to retire and when retirees actually did — most retired before age 65, often earlier than planned. The findings highlight a retirement landscape that is growing more complex, with Americans facing immediate financial pressure alongside long-term structural uncertainty.
-
Fidelity Study Shows Retirement Is Becoming More Flexible and Personalized
- April 16, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
A new Fidelity study suggests retirement is becoming more flexible and personalized, with many Americans moving away from the traditional “stop working” model. Instead, individuals are increasingly planning gradual transitions, part-time work, or alternative income streams during retirement. While financial concerns such as inflation and cost of living remain, a growing number of people are redefining retirement as a phased and adaptable stage of life. The findings highlight that retirement planning now extends beyond savings and income, incorporating lifestyle preferences, timing, and personal goals.
-
BlackRock Finds Retirees Increasingly Focused on Income Stability Over Growth
- April 2, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
BlackRock’s latest research shows a growing shift among retirees away from maximizing portfolio growth and toward ensuring income stability. Concerns about market volatility, longevity, and consistent spending are driving this change. Retirees increasingly want clarity around how their savings will translate into reliable income rather than focusing solely on account value. The study highlights that individuals with structured income strategies report lower stress levels and greater confidence. As retirement timelines extend, planning for income durability is becoming a central priority.
-
The Top Money Regrets From 2025 and How to Avoid Them in 2026
- March 20, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Recent research on financial behavior shows that many individuals regret not saving consistently, carrying unnecessary debt, and lacking a clear long-term plan. These patterns can affect retirement readiness by reducing the time available for compounding and increasing reliance on future income sources. Households that maintained disciplined savings habits and periodically reviewed their plans reported greater financial resilience. The findings emphasize the importance of aligning short-term financial decisions with long-term retirement goals. Building consistent saving habits, managing debt levels, and maintaining a structured plan can improve both confidence and long-term sustainability.
-
Why Spending Feels Hard in Retirement, Even With Savings
- March 13, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Many retirees struggle to spend confidently even when their savings appear sufficient. Behavioral factors, uncertainty about longevity, and market volatility contribute to ongoing financial anxiety. Without a structured income plan, retirees may default to underspending to avoid the risk of running out of money. Research shows that individuals with predictable income sources and a clear spending framework are more comfortable maintaining consistent lifestyles. The findings highlight that retirement readiness involves not only accumulating assets but also developing a strategy that supports sustainable and confident spending over time.
-
Target-Date Funds and the Confidence Gap in Retirement Saving
- February 27, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Recent research highlights a growing confidence gap among retirement plan participants, with many unsure whether their current savings strategies will support long-term income needs. Target-date funds remain widely used in workplace plans and are often associated with higher confidence levels due to their automated allocation and glide path structure. However, the study suggests that investment simplicity alone does not guarantee readiness. Contribution rates, income planning, and understanding how savings convert into retirement cash flow all play critical roles. Participants who combined disciplined contributions with a clear view of future income needs reported greater confidence than those relying solely on default investment options. The findings reinforce the importance of integrating investment strategy with income planning rather than treating them as separate decisions.
-
Recent Retirees Share Top Savings Regrets
- February 13, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
A recent survey of retirees highlights a consistent theme: many wish they had focused less on accumulating assets and more on building reliable income streams. Common regrets include starting to save too late, underestimating healthcare expenses, and withdrawing funds without a structured plan. Retirees who reported greater financial confidence tended to have predictable income sources, clear spending frameworks, and a strategy for managing longevity risk. The findings reinforce that retirement readiness is not defined solely by account balances but by how those balances translate into sustainable income. Planning for healthcare, sequencing withdrawals, and aligning income with essential expenses can reduce financial stress and improve long-term confidence.
-
Annuity Sales Hit a New Record: What It Signals
- January 23, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Categories: Retirement Income, Retirement Insights
Annuity sales can serve as a practical “signal” for what retirees are prioritizing—especially when the market and inflation environment makes predictable retirement income more valuable. LIMRA reported that total U.S. annuity sales reached a new quarterly record in Q3 2025, surpassing $120 billion for the first time. While sales numbers alone do not determine what is right for any one household, they do highlight broader themes: demand for income stability, interest in risk-managed growth structures, and a continued focus on retirement income planning that can hold up across volatility. This post explains what the record tells us (and what it doesn’t), why retirees care about guaranteed-income interest, and the practical questions to ask when evaluating retirement income needs.
-
Pension Buy-In Growth: Why Employers Are Transferring Risk
- January 16, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
“Pension risk transfer” can sound technical, but the core idea is simple: employers sometimes pay to move pension obligations off their balance sheet and into an insurer-backed structure. LIMRA reported that single-premium pension risk transfer buy-in sales surged in Q3 2025, reaching the highest quarterly total on record. For retirees and near-retirees, this matters because it reflects a broader theme in retirement planning: the value of predictable, contract-based income and the desire to reduce long-term financial uncertainty. This post explains what a pension buy-in is (in plain language), why employers do it, how it differs from other pension changes, and what retirement households can learn from the trend.
-
BlackRock LifePath Paycheck Growth Signals Rising Demand for Lifetime Income
- December 12, 2025
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Guaranteed lifetime income is moving closer to the mainstream inside workplace retirement plans. BlackRock reported continued growth for its LifePath Paycheck solution, reflecting a broader shift: retirees want the confidence of consistent income, not just market exposure. As lifespans extend and retirement timelines span decades, “income durability” becomes the central question. The significance isn’t the product name—it’s what demand signals. Workers and plan sponsors are increasingly exploring structures that can convert part of retirement savings into a predictable income stream, while still allowing flexibility for other needs. For households approaching retirement, the planning takeaway is clear: build an income framework that is designed to last, and coordinate it with your account types and timing decisions.
Serving Clients in all 50 states
609-807-8502
- Home
- Retirement Planning
- Annuities
- Life Insurance
- Retirement News & Updates
- About