《财富》杂志高级编辑艾丽西亚·亚当奇克正在为未来的一篇报道, 对X世代(43至58岁)进行采访,了解他们对于退休的准备情况。如果您感兴趣,请发送电子邮件至alicia.adamczyk@fortune.com。
退休会产生重要影响。最年长的X世代即将步入传统退休年龄,但一份最新报告发现,其中很少有人为人生的下一个新篇章做好了财务准备。
X世代夹在人数更多的婴儿潮一代和千禧一代之间,虽然他们约占美国人口的20%,但却并没有像婴儿潮和千禧一代一样受到大量关注。但美国应该开始关注这一代人:1965年至1980年出生的X世代,最年长者即将进入60岁的年龄,理论上,几年后他们就要离开劳动力队伍。
一项最新研究认为,许多X世代并没有为舒适的退休生活做好准备。施罗德集团(Schroders)2023年的美国退休调查发现,X世代的贫富差距最悬殊。X世代认为,舒适的退休生活平均需要超过110万美元的储蓄,但他们的储蓄预计约为660,000美元。超过60%未退休的X世代没有信心自己能过上梦想的退休生活,相比之下,千禧一代和婴儿潮一代的比例分别为49%和53%。
当然,这只是一种观点。但并非只有施罗德的报告认为,X世代没有为退休做好财务准备。非营利性研究机构美国国家退休保障研究所(National Institute on Retirement Security,NIRS)最近的一项研究发现,普通X世代家庭的退休储蓄为40,000美元,而富达投资(Fidelity Investments)调查发现,X世代平均退休储蓄为153,300美元,远低于他们认为退休所需要的110万美元。(较富有的账户持有人使平均水平出现偏差。)
国家退休保障研究所的报告认为,普通水平退休储蓄与平均水平退休储蓄的差额表明,退休储蓄高度集中在X世代的高收入群体手中:前25%的家庭平均有250,000美元退休储蓄,而后25%的家庭平均只有约35,000美元。而家庭退休储蓄中位数更加惊人,后25%的家庭只有200美元,“几乎相当于一无所有”。
事实上,西北互助人寿保险公司(Northwestern Mutual)的2023年计划与进度研究显示,只有在X世代,才会有大多数人认为自己无法为退休做好财务准备。而且X世代的财务安全感“远低于”其他代际。
X世代面临高风险
退休金不足的情况不止存在于X世代当中。银率网(Bankrate)的最新研究发现,每一代人在未来储蓄方面都面临挑战,而且超过一半上班族感觉积攒退休储蓄的进度落后。但调查发现,X世代最有可能有这种感受。
施罗德美国固定缴款计划负责人德布·博伊登表示,X世代值得关注的另外一个原因是,“他们是依赖401(k)计划(企业年金计划)而不是养老金的第一代人,而且他们即将退休。”只有约14%的X世代有养老金。总而言之,与婴儿潮一代相比,X世代必须自己积攒更多退休储蓄。虽然在退休方式的转变过程中,千禧一代得到了许多关注,但X世代将是面对这种变化的第一代人。博伊登表示:“X世代面临的风险更高,犯错的空间更小。”
他们还要比前辈们承担更高的学生贷款负债和更高的医疗保健成本。X世代的寿命预计将超过婴儿潮一代,这意味着他们需要更多储蓄。
尽管如此,“被遗忘的一代”并非没有任何希望。Redfin表示,71%的X世代拥有自己的房子,而且许多人距离退休还有几十年时间,因此他们有大量时间制定退休计划,并且享受复利带来的好处。正常情况下,许多人会在四十甚至五十岁的时候开始退休储蓄。
但这需要他们的行为发生巨大改变。国家退休保障研究所的报告称,只有约一半X世代实际上参与了在职退休金计划。面对生活成本上涨和其他财务负面因素的影响,这个数据可能很难有所改善(许多X世代可能还要照顾子女和长辈)。
国家退休保障研究所执行总监丹·多南在一份声明中表示:“大多数X世代没有养老金计划,他们经历了多次经济危机,工资上涨幅度跟不上通胀,而且生活成本持续上涨。美国人的退休美梦,将成为太多X世代的噩梦。”(财富中文网)
翻译:刘进龙
审校:汪皓
一份最新报告称,X世代并没有为退休做好财务准备。摄影:FG TRADE/盖蒂图片社
《财富》杂志高级编辑艾丽西亚·亚当奇克正在为未来的一篇报道, 对X世代(43至58岁)进行采访,了解他们对于退休的准备情况。如果您感兴趣,请发送电子邮件至alicia.adamczyk@fortune.com。
退休会产生重要影响。最年长的X世代即将步入传统退休年龄,但一份最新报告发现,其中很少有人为人生的下一个新篇章做好了财务准备。
X世代夹在人数更多的婴儿潮一代和千禧一代之间,虽然他们约占美国人口的20%,但却并没有像婴儿潮和千禧一代一样受到大量关注。但美国应该开始关注这一代人:1965年至1980年出生的X世代,最年长者即将进入60岁的年龄,理论上,几年后他们就要离开劳动力队伍。
一项最新研究认为,许多X世代并没有为舒适的退休生活做好准备。施罗德集团(Schroders)2023年的美国退休调查发现,X世代的贫富差距最悬殊。X世代认为,舒适的退休生活平均需要超过110万美元的储蓄,但他们的储蓄预计约为660,000美元。超过60%未退休的X世代没有信心自己能过上梦想的退休生活,相比之下,千禧一代和婴儿潮一代的比例分别为49%和53%。
当然,这只是一种观点。但并非只有施罗德的报告认为,X世代没有为退休做好财务准备。非营利性研究机构美国国家退休保障研究所(National Institute on Retirement Security,NIRS)最近的一项研究发现,普通X世代家庭的退休储蓄为40,000美元,而富达投资(Fidelity Investments)调查发现,X世代平均退休储蓄为153,300美元,远低于他们认为退休所需要的110万美元。(较富有的账户持有人使平均水平出现偏差。)
国家退休保障研究所的报告认为,普通水平退休储蓄与平均水平退休储蓄的差额表明,退休储蓄高度集中在X世代的高收入群体手中:前25%的家庭平均有250,000美元退休储蓄,而后25%的家庭平均只有约35,000美元。而家庭退休储蓄中位数更加惊人,后25%的家庭只有200美元,“几乎相当于一无所有”。
事实上,西北互助人寿保险公司(Northwestern Mutual)的2023年计划与进度研究显示,只有在X世代,才会有大多数人认为自己无法为退休做好财务准备。而且X世代的财务安全感“远低于”其他代际。
X世代面临高风险
退休金不足的情况不止存在于X世代当中。银率网(Bankrate)的最新研究发现,每一代人在未来储蓄方面都面临挑战,而且超过一半上班族感觉积攒退休储蓄的进度落后。但调查发现,X世代最有可能有这种感受。
施罗德美国固定缴款计划负责人德布·博伊登表示,X世代值得关注的另外一个原因是,“他们是依赖401(k)计划(企业年金计划)而不是养老金的第一代人,而且他们即将退休。”只有约14%的X世代有养老金。总而言之,与婴儿潮一代相比,X世代必须自己积攒更多退休储蓄。虽然在退休方式的转变过程中,千禧一代得到了许多关注,但X世代将是面对这种变化的第一代人。博伊登表示:“X世代面临的风险更高,犯错的空间更小。”
他们还要比前辈们承担更高的学生贷款负债和更高的医疗保健成本。X世代的寿命预计将超过婴儿潮一代,这意味着他们需要更多储蓄。
尽管如此,“被遗忘的一代”并非没有任何希望。Redfin表示,71%的X世代拥有自己的房子,而且许多人距离退休还有几十年时间,因此他们有大量时间制定退休计划,并且享受复利带来的好处。正常情况下,许多人会在四十甚至五十岁的时候开始退休储蓄。
但这需要他们的行为发生巨大改变。国家退休保障研究所的报告称,只有约一半X世代实际上参与了在职退休金计划。面对生活成本上涨和其他财务负面因素的影响,这个数据可能很难有所改善(许多X世代可能还要照顾子女和长辈)。
国家退休保障研究所执行总监丹·多南在一份声明中表示:“大多数X世代没有养老金计划,他们经历了多次经济危机,工资上涨幅度跟不上通胀,而且生活成本持续上涨。美国人的退休美梦,将成为太多X世代的噩梦。”(财富中文网)
翻译:刘进龙
审校:汪皓
Gen X is not financially prepared for retirement, according to a new report.
Fortune senior writer Alicia Adamczyk is looking for Gen Xers (ages 43 to 58) to interview about their retirement readiness for a future story. If you’re interested, email her at alicia.adamczyk@fortune.com.
Retirement bites. The oldest members of Generation X are swiftly approaching the traditional retirement age, but few are financially prepared for the next chapter, a new report finds.
Sandwiched between the larger baby boomer and millennial generations, Gen X typically doesn’t get as much attention as its older and younger cohorts despite making up around 20% of the population. But America needs to start paying attention: Born between 1965 and 1980, the Gen Xers on the cusp of their seventh decade are, theoretically, just a few years away from leaving the workforce.
And according to new research, many are not prepared for a comfortable retirement. They have the largest wealth gap of any generation, according to the Schroders 2023 U.S. Retirement Survey. On average, these workers say it will take a bit over $1.1 million in savings to retire comfortably, but expect to have around $660,000 saved. Over 60% of non-retired Gen Xers are not confident in their ability to achieve a dream retirement, compared to 49% of millennials and 53% of baby boomers.
Of course, that’s only perception. But Schroders is far from the only report that finds Gen X isn’t financially prepared for retirement. A recent study from the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS), a nonprofit research organization, found the typical Gen X household has $40,000 in retirement savings, while the average has $153,300, according to Fidelity Investments, far less than the $1.1 million they think they’ll need. (Averages are often skewed by a few wealthier account holders.)
As the difference between the typical amount and the average indicates, retirement savings is highly concentrated among top Gen X earners, according to NIRS’s report: The top 25% has $250,000, on average, while the bottom quartile has around $35,000. The median is more striking, with the bottom quartile having just $200—“almost nothing.”
In fact, Gen X is the only generation in which a majority believe they won’t be financially prepared for retirement, according to Northwestern Mutual’s 2023 Planning & Progress Study. They also report “markedly lower” feelings of financial security than other generations.
The stakes are high for Gen X
Underfunding retirement isn’t unique to Gen X. Every generation has challenges when it comes to saving for the future, and over half of workers feel behind on building up their retirement accounts, according to a recent Bankrate study. But Gen X is most likely to feel this way, according to the survey.
And Gen X is also notable because “they are the first generation to rely on 401(k) plans instead of pensions and the next in line to retire,” says Deb Boyden, head of U.S. defined contribution at Schroders. Only about 14% of Gen Xers have a pension; broadly speaking, Gen X is on the hook for saving for a lot more of their retirement on their own than boomers. While millennials get a lot of the attention for this shift in the retirement landscape, Gen X will be the pioneers of managing the changes. “The stakes are higher for Generation X and the margin for error is lower,” Boyden says.
They also faced the rise of student loan debt, as well as higher health care costs than the generations before them. They are projected to live longer than boomers, meaning they will likely need even more saved.
That said, not all is lost for the “forgotten generation.” Some 71% own their homes, according to Redfin, and many still have decades until retirement, giving them plenty of time to put a plan together and still reap the benefits of compound interest. It’s normal for many people to start saving for retirement in their forties and sometimes even fifties.
But that would require a big shift in behavior: According to the NIRS, only around half of Gen Xers are actually participating in a workplace retirement plan, a statistic that may be difficult to improve with the rising cost of living and other financial headwinds (many Gen Xers are also likely to be caring for both children and older relatives).
“Most Gen Xers don’t have a pension plan, they’ve lived through multiple economic crises, wages aren’t keeping up with inflation, and costs are rising,” Dan Doonan, executive director of the NIRS, said in a statement. “The American dream of retirement is going to be a nightmare for too many Gen Xers.”