How Confident Are Americans About Retirement? The Data Is Concerning

What Does the Research Show About Confidence?

The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) annual survey consistently shows: - Only 37% of workers are 'very confident' about retirement - 33% are 'not confident' at all - Among those who HAVE calculated their needs, confidence doubles

The insight: confidence comes from information, not from balance size. People with $300K who have run the numbers are often more confident than people with $800K who haven't. The uncertainty is the anxiety source — not necessarily the financial position.

This is exactly why running a Monte Carlo analysis matters. A specific number — even a challenging one — is less stressful than not knowing.

What Factors Drive Retirement Confidence?

In order of impact: 1. Having done a retirement calculation (2x confidence multiplier) 2. Having a written plan or working with a planner 3. Participation in a workplace retirement plan 4. Adequate emergency fund 5. Manageable debt levels

Notably, income level and portfolio balance are NOT the top factors. Process matters more than balance. A person earning $75,000 with a plan and modest savings is often better positioned than a $200,000 earner with no plan and lifestyle inflation.

Want to Replace Anxiety with Data?

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