People are stressed about retirement. Is it because they aren't saving?
The Washington Post
May 10, 2016 15:24 MYT
May 10, 2016 15:24 MYT
People are stressing more about retirement. At the same time they are saving less. Do you see a disconnect?
Those are among the results of Franklin Templeton's fifth annual Retirement Income Strategist and Expectations (RISE) study, which focuses on how different generations think about and prepare for retirement.
About 41 percent of those surveyed said they are not yet saving, compared to 35 percent in 2014.
Meanwhile, 70 percent said they were stressed thinking about retirement savings and investments, up from 67 percent in 2015.
Not surprisingly, the closer we get to retirement, the more stressed we are. Seventy-seven percent of those within 11 to 15 years of retirement were stressed.
Michael Doshier, vice president of retirement marketing for Franklin Templeton, says the survey did not ask people why they weren't saving. But generally, people say they can't afford to or they didn't have their priorities straight.
"It's like diet and exercise," he says. "You know what the right things are, but it's hard to stay the course. Those that do have a plan, have a (financial) adviser and are saving, their stress levels are much lower than those who don't."
There were a few other surprises in the survey, Doshier says.
Boredom in retirement is a major concern -- until they retire. For people under 34, boredom is one of top three concerns about preparing for retirement. When you ask retirees, only 6 percent said they were worried about being bored. Most retirees seem to be pretty satisfied.
Seniors aren't necessarily working after retirement age because they have to. "We did notice a fair amount saying they were working not because they had to, but they wanted to," Doshier says. "Thirty percent said it was their decision. For those 65 and older and still working, 35 percent said the main reason is they just enjoy working."