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Americans are feeling more optimistic when it comes to retirement.
Just 21% Americans surveyed by Natixis Investment Managers said it will “take a miracle” to have a secure retirement, down almost half from 41% who said the same in 2021.
Part of that confidence stems from the S&P 500 index’s two consecutive years of returns exceeding 20% — half of survey respondents said those results made investing look easy, according to Natixis.
Yet 69% of the 750 Americans surveyed earlier this year said they still worry about instability and the potential financial impact.
Among their top retirement concerns are the possibility they may live longer than expected, the worry their Social Security benefits may be cut and the fear that high inflation could erode their retirement savings.
The recent, sudden big swing in inflation prompted people to save less, to worry their savings won’t go as far in the future and to feel that their investment gains have been whittled down, according to Dave Goodsell, executive director of the Natixis Center for Investor Insight.
“When they look at how they’re feeling about retirement, they feel good overall, but there are certain things that are making them uncomfortable,” Goodsell said.
The U.S. landed at No. 21 on Natixis’ new ranking of best countries for retirees, moving up one slot from the previous year. The ranking measures countries based on finances, wellbeing, health and quality of life. While strong finances and health helped bolster the country’s overall 70% score, that was offset by factors including income inequality, a slight increase in unemployment and a decline in happiness.
Americans expect to retire at 64, yet face a savings gap
How investors are preparing — and what they should do
The top move Americans are making to prepare for retirement — with 64% — is saving more and cutting expenses, according to Natixis’ survey.
That is followed by 47% who are creating long-term financial plans, 34% who are estimating future retirement costs and 32% who are seeking professional financial advice.
To better prepare, Americans ought to make getting professional help a higher priority, according to Goodsell.
A financial advisor can help sort out the “super complicated mathematical equation” that retirement planning requires, including how much savings is needed and what inflation may be in the future, Goodsell said.
“When you ask retirees what the number one thing [was] that helped them get to security, it was getting professional advice,” Goodsell said.
While many Americans strive for a $1 million nest egg, that may only yield about $40,000 annually if they withdraw funds based on the 4% rule in retirement, Goodsell said.
The 4% rule traditionally involves withdrawing 4% of a portfolio in the first year of retirement and then adjusting the rate in subsequent years for inflation.
Generally, retirement savers will want to strive for a higher balance in order to have more money to live on in their golden years, according to Goodsell.
Some surveys point to an amount aspiring retirees think they need to have saved.
To get a more accurate gauge of your retirement savings goals, start with the amount of money you anticipate needing your first year of retirement, Bill Bengen, the financial planner who invented the 4% rule, recently told CNBC.com.
Then, take 20 times that first year withdrawal amount to get a rough savings goal estimate, he said.
