Axios-Ipsos poll: Retirement out of reach
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Most Americans want to retire, but only half feel like they’re able to save for the future.
The big picture: Many Americans who haven't yet retired say they are unprepared for retirement, unsure how to prepare and unsure if they even want to fully retire, according to a new Axios-Ipsos poll.
- One in 5 say they don't think they will ever retire.
- Just 36% of those 55 and older — nearing typical retirement age — say they'll be able to retire at the time they expected.
By the numbers: 30% of people still in the workforce plan to use a pension to help fund their future retirement, compared with 54% of retirees who say they're using pension money.
- On top of that, "roughly half the workforce, we’re talking 50 plus million people, work for an employer that doesn’t offer a retirement plan," David John, a senior policy adviser at AARP, tells Axios. That could mean a small business or gig work.
Zoom in: While Americans say retirement is on their minds, they're not likely to talk about it with others.
- 60% say they consider how they might be able to afford retirement often or sometimes, but 41% have never discussed saving for retirement with friends and 57% have never spoken about it with a financial planner.
The bottom line: Retirement may seem out of reach, but it remains a goal for most Americans, and those who have retired say they're content. 68% of retirees agree that they feel better than ever now that they’ve retired.
