A Tumultuous Year Tests Optimism Among American Retirement Savers

Core Insights - Retirement optimism among Americans dropped by over 10% in 2025, falling from a peak of 55% in March to 44% by the end of the year [1][2] - The decline in sentiment is attributed to volatile markets, unprecedented tariffs, and the longest government shutdown in history [1] Retirement Sentiment and Savings Behavior - 40% of Americans saving for retirement have less than one year of expenses saved, and 30% would not last six months without income [3] - The connection between saving actions and retirement sentiment indicates that thoughtful saving practices lead to higher optimism [4] - 91% of those with negative feelings about retirement lack a clearly defined savings plan [4] Gender and Retirement Outlook - Women's retirement outlook is less optimistic, with one in five women able to survive less than one month on retirement savings compared to one in ten men [5] - 35% of women have only six months of savings, while 25% of men report the same [5] Impact of Government Policies - 69% of respondents expressed concern about government policies affecting their retirement [6] - Despite declining optimism, the correlation between positive retirement behaviors and outlook offers a silver lining [6] Planning and Financial Habits - 53% of those with a positive outlook have a solid retirement plan, often involving financial advisors or online tools [8] - Nearly one in three (32%) contribute enough to receive full employer matches, enhancing their retirement savings [8] - Individuals with a positive outlook are more likely to consolidate old retirement accounts [8] Demographics of Optimism - 52% of men reported an optimistic retirement outlook, compared to 37% of women [9] - Married men showed the highest positive sentiment at 63%, while only 32% of single women felt optimistic [9] Survey Methodology - The survey included over 3,000 Americans aged 18 and older, focusing on those actively saving for retirement [10] - Conducted online at four intervals between March and November 2025, the survey has a margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points [10]