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Three in Four Workers Fear Retirement Will Be Less Secure Than Their Parents
- July 24, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Income
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BlackRock’s 2026 Read on Retirement survey of 1,312 workplace savers finds that 76% believe their generation will have less certainty about retirement income than previous generations — a survey-series high, up from 67% in 2021. Nearly two-thirds worry about outliving their savings, and the data shows broad demand for guaranteed income, active management, and personalized guidance. At the same time, a Morningstar report finds that assets in target-date funds with embedded annuity options grew 70% year over year to $44 billion by the end of the first quarter of 2026 — still less than 1% of the $4.8 trillion target-date universe, but growing fast. Major firms including BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity, JPMorgan Asset Management, and TIAA are all expanding annuity-style products within 401(k) plans, responding to what retirement industry leaders describe as a pivotal shift from exploration to execution. A notable gap also emerged: women are 44% less likely than men to adopt guaranteed income solutions despite living longer and facing greater longevity risk.
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Gen X Is More Anxious About Retirement Than Boomers. Here’s Why.
- June 25, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Global Atlantic’s 2026 Retirement Outlook Survey, which polled 1,011 consumers ages 55 to 75 with $250,000 to $2 million in investable assets and 505 financial professionals, finds that first-wave Gen Xers — those now ages 55 to 60 — are entering the final stretch before retirement with significantly more anxiety than Boomers. Twenty-eight percent of Gen Xers said they are extremely or very concerned about having enough income to last their lifetime, double the rate of Boomers at 14%. Nearly half of Gen Xers anticipated returning to work after retirement due to financial concerns, compared with 21% of Boomers. The survey also reveals that 38% of respondents do not have a specific retirement income plan despite all working with a financial professional — and that 69% of consumers are concerned Social Security will not provide full benefits for the rest of their lives. The findings point to a generation navigating a retirement transition without the pension safety net that many previous retirees relied on, at a moment of elevated healthcare costs and economic uncertainty.
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New Research Finds Annuities May Help Retirees Live Longer
- June 12, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Income
A new academic study examining nearly 600,000 Chilean retirees over nearly two decades finds that annuities substantially reduce mortality — increasing longevity by 2.55% at five years and 3.62% at ten years compared to retirees who chose phased withdrawals. The researchers, affiliated with universities in Chile, Indiana, and Dartmouth, conclude that annuities reduce mortality by shielding retirees from income volatility and investment-related stress. Survey evidence from the study also finds that annuitants invest more in their health and report lower disability rates. Financial advisors familiar with the research say the findings align with what they observe in practice: clients with guaranteed lifetime income sleep better, spend more on health, and experience less financial anxiety than those managing a portfolio through market cycles. The study adds a compelling dimension to the case for guaranteed income — one that goes beyond financial planning and into quality of life.
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Lifetime Income Is the Missing Link in Retirement Security
- May 30, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Income
New global research from Prudential Financial and the Global Aging Institute, released at the Spring IMF World Bank Meetings, finds that most retirement systems leave individuals to manage longevity risk largely on their own. The study, which examined retirement systems across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, and Japan, concludes that lifetime income solutions can significantly strengthen retirement security — and may allow countries to deliver equivalent retirement outcomes at approximately 20% lower cost compared to lump-sum distribution models. The research calls for lifetime income to become the default option in employer-sponsored retirement plans, and highlights the efficiency gains that come from pooling longevity risk across a broad population. The findings reinforce a growing body of evidence that the transition from defined benefit to defined contribution retirement systems has left a meaningful income gap for retirees — one that guaranteed income products are uniquely positioned to address.
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Why Guaranteed Income Is Becoming the New Safe Haven
- April 30, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Income
Athene’s 2026 Retirement Outlook, developed in collaboration with leaders from Apollo and Vitera, examines the structural forces reshaping retirement security in the year ahead. The report identifies two primary risks for retirees and near-retirees: concentrated equity exposure in portfolios and the renewed threat of inflation. Against that backdrop, the outlook makes a case for guaranteed income solutions as a core allocation in retirement portfolios — one that can provide predictability that Treasuries, cash, and other traditional safe havens cannot offer in the same way. The report also highlights how annuity design has modernized, how benchmarks in the retirement system are shifting from fees to outcomes, and how the defined contribution space is beginning to integrate income-focused options as default structures. For clients approaching or already in retirement, the findings reflect a broader industry shift toward building retirement plans around income certainty rather than account balances alone.
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Fidelity Study Highlights Rising Importance of Guaranteed Income in Retirement Planning
- March 26, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Income
A new Fidelity study shows that more retirees and pre-retirees are prioritizing predictable income over portfolio growth as they approach retirement. Concerns about longevity, market volatility, and spending consistency are driving this shift. Individuals with access to stable income sources report higher confidence and are more comfortable maintaining consistent spending patterns. The findings reinforce a broader trend toward structuring retirement income rather than relying solely on withdrawals. As retirement horizons extend, aligning income with essential expenses may help reduce financial stress and improve long-term sustainability.
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MetLife Finds Retirement Savings Deplete Faster Than Expected
- March 6, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Income
New research indicates that many retirees believe their savings may not last as long as originally expected. Rising healthcare costs, longer life expectancies, and uncertainty around market performance contribute to this concern. Retirees with predictable income sources reported greater confidence, while those relying primarily on portfolio withdrawals expressed higher anxiety about longevity risk. The findings highlight the importance of aligning dependable income with essential expenses and planning for extended retirement horizons. A structured income framework can help reduce the likelihood of accelerating withdrawals during market volatility and improve long-term sustainability.
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Morningstar Updates a Safe Withdrawal Rate for 2026
- February 20, 2026
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Income
Morningstar’s updated withdrawal rate research for 2026 emphasizes that sustainable retirement income depends on more than a fixed percentage rule. Market volatility, longevity, and spending flexibility all influence long-term outcomes. The analysis highlights sequence risk and the importance of adjusting withdrawals during downturns. It also reinforces the value of aligning dependable income sources with essential expenses to reduce pressure on investment portfolios. Rather than relying solely on a static withdrawal rate, retirees may benefit from a dynamic approach that integrates predictable income, disciplined spending, and periodic review. Sustainable retirement income is ultimately shaped by structure, not just percentages.
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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.
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Why Retirement Anxiety Is Rising and What Planning Can Do
- November 21, 2025
- Posted by: August
- Category: Retirement Insights
Retirement confidence is under pressure—and the concerns are increasingly emotional as well as financial. Allianz Life’s 2025 Annual Retirement Study reports that many Americans worry more about running out of money than death, reflecting how inflation, uncertainty, and long retirements can strain planning assumptions. The findings underscore a key shift: retirement planning isn’t only about “having enough,” but about having a structure for income that can hold up through market changes, rising expenses, and longer lifespans. For households approaching retirement, the most practical response is not panic—it’s clarity: identify income sources, stress-test how withdrawals behave in down markets, and build a plan designed to stay consistent year-to-year.
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