April 2024

Trust & Confidence Index 2023

By Trafalgar House  The Trust & Confidence Index gauges the trust and confidence levels of more than 2,000 individuals annually, serving as a benchmark for the public's perception of the pensions industry. The index assesses the pensions sector against other financial services, identifies factors influencing trust levels, and determines which service areas people consider significant. Additionally, the analysis probes individuals' attitudes toward their retirement decisions and plans. Get the report here

UK. Public trust in pensions rises, but reservations remain

Trafalgar House’s Trust and Confidence Index polled 2,000 people to assess how much they trust the pension industry and whether they believe it will meet their retirement needs. It asked participants to rate their trust in the pensions industry on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being “not at all” and 10 being “a lot”. The index found that trust in the pensions industry increased to 5.26 out of 10 in 2023, up from 4.95 in 2022. This...

US. Inflation Concerns Still Impacting Retirement Planning Decisions

Ongoing economic challenges are changing how Americans are thinking about retirement planning, with nearly 6 in 10 pre-retirees (57%) believing that inflation poses the most immediate challenge to their retirement portfolios over the next 12 months. And this stress apparently is shifting the perception of life as a retiree, especially for those closest to retirement age. Findings from Nationwide's ninth annual Advisor Authority survey show that roughly 7 in 10 pre-retiree investors (69%)—defined as non-retired investors aged 55-65—agree that the norm...

US. Why Staying in Your 401(k) After Retirement Makes Sense

Many Americans heading into retirement confront a weighty question that doesn’t have an easy answer: Should they retain their savings in their 401(k) plans, move them to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), or cash out and pay taxes (and perhaps penalties) on the assets withdrawn?A new research paper titled “The Pros and Cons of Remaining in a 401(k) Plan After Retirement” addresses this question, especially for “the vast majority of Americans who enter retirement with low or moderate levels...

Americans think they need almost $1.5 million to retire. Experts say to focus on another number instead

When it comes to retirement, Americans have a new number in mind — $1.46 million — for how much they think they will need to live comfortably, according to new research from Northwestern Mutual. That estimate is up 53% since 2020, when Americans said they would need $951,000, as the cost of living has surged in recent years. It is also up 15% from last year, when respondents said they would need $1.27 million. For many savers, that goal may sound daunting, particularly as...

Retirement insecurity 2024 americans’ views of retirement

By Dan Doonan & Kelly Kenneally T he ground is shifting when it comes to retirement. Most Americans are experiencing increased financial pressures "I am scared to be broke." Dream. Eighty-three percent of Americans say that all workers should have a pension so they can be and low levels of retirement savings. Amid growing concerns about Americans’ retirement readiness, policymakers recently enacted measures to help address the grave savings shortfall. On the federal level, Congress passed important retirement legislation in...

Singapore. Redefining Retirement: Why it’s Time To Broaden Our Understanding Of What It Means To Retire

When someone says the word ‘retiree’, the image that comes to mind is a person with greying hair, perhaps wrinkling skin, and is ready to spend the rest of their days lounging at the kopitiam in the middle of the day with a newspaper and a hot cup of kopi. One would reasonably expect such a person to be in their sixties, well past the definition of a young person. But in the past two weeks, not one but two young men, clearly...

US. As Gen Xers Inch Toward Retirement, They’re Considering Where to Live

When they were raising their four children, Billy and Erin Shipley had space for their family to grow: a two-story, five-bedroom house in Sugar Land, Texas, with a large yard and a pool. But as the children became adults and moved out, the second floor was deserted and maintaining the lawn and pool became a burden. Like many members of Generation X facing an empty nest, the Shipleys decided to look for a home better suited to their needs where...

China’s Young People Are Giving Up on Saving for Retirement

China wants young people to put money away for retirement. Tao Swift, an unemployed 30-year-old, is not interested in hearing it. “Retire with a pension?” he asked. “I don’t hold much hope that I can definitely get my hands on it.” Mr. Tao, who lives in the southern city of Chengdu, is not alone in thinking this way. On social media forums and among friends, young people are questioning whether to save for old age. Some are opting out, citing the...