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.