Preparedness deemed more important than age in retirement planning

On behalf of Fast Company, The Harris Poll recently surveyed a representative sample of U.S. adults on what they think makes a successful plan for retirement—and the state of their own retirement planning. Notably, four in five (80%) of Americans have made investments to save for retirement, though two-thirds (65%) of U.S. adults who are retired or may want to retire in the future agree that they don’t know how much money they’ll need to save to retire comfortably.

Most U.S. adults think an employed person should retire at or above the age of 65, and a notable sum think planning for retirement should start much earlier. That said, most think preparedness is more important than age when it comes to retirement, and slightly less than half of young adults feel on track with their own retirement planning.

A quarter (25%) of U.S. adults think an employed person should start planning for retirement (e.g., saving money, securing benefits) between the ages of 18 and 24. A similar number (24%) think an employed person should start planning for retirement in their 30s. About half (47%) of those aged 18-25 who want to retire in the future feel on track with their retirement planning, and a similar number (47%) of those in their 30s feel behind in their planning.

Over half (55%) of U.S. adults think an employed person should retire at or above the age of 65. That said, four in five (81%) U.S. adults agree that when it comes to retirement, being the right age is less important than being prepared (e.g., financially secure, with access to healthcare and other benefits.)

While most adults want to retire in the future, many feel overwhelmed and behind on retirement planning.

Over half (54%) of U.S. adults who are employed or looking for work say they want to retire fully (i.e., completely exit the workforce). Three in ten (28%) want to retire partially (e.g., contract work, part time work), and 10% do not want to retire.

Two in five (45%) of those who are retired or who want to retire in the future say that they feel behind in their personal retirement planning (e.g., saving money, securing benefits). Half (53%) of those aged 55-64 who are retired or want to retire in the future and a third (34%) of those aged 65+ who are retired or want to retire in the future feel behind in their personal retirement planning.

Three in five (60%) U.S. adults agree that planning for retirement is overwhelming, and over half (56%) of U.S. adults who are retired or may want to retire in the future don’t think they’ll have the means (e.g., money, resources) to comfortably retire in the future.

Most U.S. adults have made investments to save for retirement, and a noteworthy amount manage their savings regularly. However, most U.S. adults who are retired or may want to retire in the future don’t know how much money they’ll need to save.

Four in five (80%) of U.S. adults have made investments to save for retirement. Half (51%) of U.S. adults have invested in a bank account (e.g., checking, personal savings, money market) to save for retirement. Two in five (43%) have an employer-sponsored retirement investment plan. Three in ten (27%) invested in an IRA to save for retirement, and a similar number (26%) use equity investments to save for retirement. More than one in 10 (14%) U.S. adults haven’t made any investments to save for retirement. 

Nearly three quarters (72%) of those who have started to save for retirement through investments (e.g., bank accounts, employer-sponsored retirement plans, IRA) make a point to manage their retirement savings regularly. That said, two-thirds (65%) of U.S. adults who are retired or may want to retire in the future agree that they don’t know how much money they’ll need to save to retire comfortably.

This survey was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll from September 23, 2022 to September 26, 2022 among 1,022 respondents. Figures for age, sex, race and ethnicity, education, region, household income, and propensity to be online have been weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions within the US population. Respondents for this survey were selected from a pool of potential respondents who have agreed to participate in The Harris Poll’s online research. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 4.0 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.