June 2024

All Generations Agree These Are America’s Top 3 Retirement Savings Worries

As Americans contemplate their retirements and envision their golden years, a cascade of serious concerns and anxieties often accompanies these thoughts. Retirement planning is riddled with weighty financial decisions, and it’s common for individuals to grapple with these uncertainties. A recent survey conducted by GOBankingRates highlights some of the most significant worries Americans have about their retirement. Major Retirement Concerns 1. Running Out of Money A significant 59% of survey respondents fear the possibility of running out of money during retirement. This...

US. The Best Places to Retire Overseas for LGBTQ+ Seniors

A growing number of U.S. citizens are looking to retire overseas. For those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, there may be special considerations beyond affordability and access to quality health care. For example, it’s important for most LGBTQ+ retirees to settle somewhere that’s safe, allows same-sex marriage and boasts a lively and dynamic LGBTQ+ community. But before deciding on a home overseas, LGBTQ+ retirees should consider some practical aspects. "I recommend extensively researching how your income will be taxed in your potential...

US. Gen X is the least confident about retirement as ‘crunch time’ nears—and has done less to prepare than boomers or millennials

The cohort once derided as the “slacker generation” is about to start heading into retirement, and many Gen Xers aren’t feeling so optimistic about it after not doing as much to get ready. Only 62% of Gen Xers feel confident about “being able to financially support all the things they want to do in life,” according to Allianz Life Insurance’s 2024 annual retirement study. That’s well below baby boomers (82%) and millennials (77%). To be sure, the simple fact that Gen X...

Retirement Confidence Survey and the LGBTQ Community

By Craig Copeland (Employee Benefit Research Institute) & Lisa Greenwald (Greenwald Research) The Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS) was conducted for its 32nd year in 2022 to measure attitudes of American workers and retirees about issues surrounding retirement. For the first time, in 2022, the RCS included an oversample of LGBTQ Americans to allow for an analysis of the challenges that LGBTQ workers and retirees face in preparing for and living in retirement. Questions included in this year’s survey explore priorities...

Pioneering Safe & Inclusive LGBT Specific Retirement Accommodation. Exploring Models in the USA, UK, & Spain

By Liam Concannon With significant advances in equal rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) citizens, achieved across the western world during the past few decades, one group that continues to be overlooked is LGBT elders. This article examines the unique discrimination and homophobia faced by older LGBT people living in nursing and residential care homes. It investigates ways in which these environments construct and perpetuate heteronormativity by addressing the needs of heterosexual residents, while at the same...

A Wealth of Well-Being: A Holistic Approach to Behavioral Finance

By Meir Statman I often note that the biggest risks in life are not in the stock market. If you want real risk, I say, get married. And if you want more risk, have children. People laugh, because the point is obvious. Yet that point is regularly lost when we speak about financial well-being, neglecting life well-being. I was motivated to write my book, “A Wealth of Well-Being, by reflecting on my own financial and life well-being and those of...

US. Here’s How Every Generation Views Retirement in 2024, From Gen Z to Baby Boomers

Different generations might have different viewpoints about retirement based on their values and experiences, but one thing just about every age group agrees on is that you need a lot of money to retire comfortably in the United States. A study released earlier this year by Northwestern Mutual found that every generation except boomers believes it takes over $1 million to retire comfortably. The average retirement savings target is $1.46 million. Here’s how it breaks down by generation: Gen Z: $1.63 million Millennials: $1.65 million ...

10 of America’s most affordable retirement spots, where the weather is good and healthcare is top-notch

Realtor.com ranked top retirement spots based on home prices and amenities for older residents. Florida is a popular retirement destination, but California and New Jersey had a few in the top 10. Many seniors face financial constraints and depend on Social Security for retirement. As many Americans prepare to retire, many are wondering just how far their finances can take them. After all, a majority of seniors live on meager incomes, and many are reliant on ever-imperiled Social Security. But for the workers who have put in...

May 2024

Improving Pension Information: Experimental Evidence on Learning Using Online Resources

By Denise Laroze, Charles Noussair, Gabriela Fajardo, Ximena Quintanilla, Paulina Granados, Pedro Vallette & Mauricio López Tapia When planning for retirement, deciding what to do with one's pension funds is a high-stakes, one-shot decision. It is often described in technical jargon that few people understand. Not surprisingly, individuals find the pension selection process stressful. As a consequence, many pay for advice or miss out on benefits they are eligible for because of the opacity of the retirement process. We consider...

Pensions in Europe: Which countries are best and worst for retirement?

There are significant pension disparities across Europe. Euronews Business has found a strong positive correlation between financial confidence in retirement and the level of monthly pensions. Earnings-related pensions overwhelmingly constitute the primary source of income for Europeans aged 65 and older. However, less than half of EU consumers are confident that they will have enough money to live comfortably throughout their retirement. In several countries, this confidence level falls to 30% or even less. This raises concerns about pension adequacy. Protecting...