May 2026
27May

Most people in the US are at risk of outliving their retirement savings

Retirement savings may have hit record levels, but a mere 12% of retirement savers in the U.S. have enough funds set aside to last more than 10 years, a new survey warns. The survey of 1,000 U.S. retirement savers by online retirement pension provider PensionBee also found that just 13% of respondents could not survive one month on their funds. Increasing lifespans are also adding to the retirement savings pressure. Life expectancy for the U.S. population was 79 years in 2024, according to CDC data,...

May 27, 2026
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25May

US. Aging in place comes with major financial hurdles

More than 75% of older Americans say they want to “age in place,” or live in their home for as long as possible. Sounds reasonable. But 40% have doubts about whether that's possible, according to a survey by AARP. For many, financial constraints will force them to downsize, relocate to a less expensive city or state or move in with family or into an independent retirement or assisted living community. Money issues such as the cost of age-proofing a home, the...

May 25, 2026
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22May

Investment Decisions of Defined Benefit Pension Plans

By Zhichuan Frank Li, Jun Wang & Yuqi Zhang This paper examines the determinants of defined benefit (DB) pension plan investment decisions of U.S. corporations with the largest 100 DB plans (Milliman 100 companies). We test two contradicting theories on DB plans. The risk-management theory indicates that firms tend to reduce risk in their pension investments when facing high risk, and the risk-shifting theory predicts the opposite because the funds’ downside risk is hedged by federal government insurance. We find...

May 22, 2026
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20May

US. Inflation is at a 3-year high. This is the ‘triple threat’ that retirees now face because of it

Plus, here’s how retirees can smartly deal with the secondary impacts of inflation. For retirees, inflation can hit especially hard thanks to three factors that interact with these rising costs: increased withdrawals, taxes and how those parlay into depleting savings, says Jay Sharifi, CEO of Legacy Wealth Management. Indeed, inflation can trigger a chain reaction, as it can necessitate larger withdrawals so retirees can afford their life. Those withdrawals then inadvertently create larger tax bills — and that may in...

May 20, 2026
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18May

Retirement without guaranteed income streams may mean near-total asset wipeout

Retirement may not unfold the way most people (or planners) expect, and new research from the suggests that without a reliable income floor, the consequences can be severe. The Employee Benefit Research Institute study tracked how household net non-housing assets shifted across a roughly three-decade window using longitudinal data from the 1992–2022 Health and Retirement Study. What it found challenges the conventional image of retirement as a steady, predictable spend-down of accumulated wealth. Asset drawdown varied dramatically depending on how much a retiree...

May 18, 2026
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18May

Growing old gracefully: US hot spots for increased life expectancy revealed

In many advanced economies populations are growing and, at the same time, the average age is rising. This holds true for the U.S., where new research reveals that West Virginia leads the list, with its residents aging nearly eight years faster than the rest of the country. This is based on an April 2026 report conducted by a firm called Auragens, who measured both biological and psychological aging across all 50 states. Biological aging included six factors: physical inactivity, obesity, heart disease,...

May 18, 2026
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15May

US. Mamdani’s counting on pension restructuring to balance the budget. Will the unions let that happen?

Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to delay certain payments to the city’s pension funds to help close the city’s multibillion dollar funding deficit. The only problem is that he needs municipal labor unions’ approval to change up their retirement accounts, and some unions are mum about the plan while others outright oppose it. While it’s still early, the unions’ apprehension to immediately get on board speaks to the plan’s politically sensitive nature. The pension restructuring proposal is one of the lifelines...

May 15, 2026
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15May

US. Why Your $1 Million 401(k) May Be Worth Far Less Than You Think

A million bucks in a 401(k) doesn't mean you have a seven-figure fortune to spend in retirement. Unfortunately, Uncle Sam takes his tax cut. Suddenly, the $1 million sitting in a traditional retirement account isn't as well fortified as you thought. "One million dollars in a 401(k) isn't really worth a million dollars," said David Schneider, a certified financial planner and president of Schneider Wealth Strategies. It's important for retirees and workers still saving for retirement to keep that in mind. And...

May 15, 2026
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13May

Europe’s demographic challenge: how to guarantee intergenerational fairness in pensions and beyond

Engaging younger generations earlier  The core challenge is timing. Pension planning often begins too late, even though early contributions are crucial. Yet for many young people, retirement feels too distant to prioritise.  Speakers highlighted financial literacy and pension awareness as key tools but stressed that education must go hand in hand with practical solutions. Well-designed systems, such as automatic enrolment, can significantly increase participation, while pension tracking tools can help individuals keep oversight in increasingly mobile careers.  Addressing persistent inequalities   Fairness between generations...

May 13, 2026
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12May

US. Pension income in 2026 reshapes safe withdrawal strategies

Pension changes withdrawal: Guaranteed income covering 40%+ of expenses can justify higher withdrawal rates than the 3.9% baseline. COLA protects income: Inflation-adjusted pensions help maintain purchasing power, supporting more confident portfolio draws. Advanced strategies rise: Dynamic Spending or Guardrails can exceed 5% withdrawals when backed by a strong income floor. Why 2026's economic conditions change the retirement math Morningstar’s 2026 guidance starts retirees at a 3.9% withdrawal rate due to current market valuations. Research from Wade Pfau and the Journal of Financial Planning indicates that when...

May 12, 2026
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