America’s Retirement ‘Report Card’ Isn’t Great — An Expert Breaks Down How It Could Be Better

Core Insights - The United States ranks 21st out of 44 countries in the 2025 Global Retirement Index, raising questions about its retirement security [1] - Smaller countries tend to perform better in retirement security due to their ability to implement effective programs and lower concerns about income inequality and inflation [2] - Experts suggest that individual responsibility and inadequate financial planning contribute to the low ranking of the U.S. [3][4] Group 1: Factors Affecting U.S. Ranking - Smaller countries have less public debt and market volatility, allowing them to better support retirees [2] - A significant portion of Americans are unprepared for retirement, with 64% lacking adequate preparation and 48% showing indifference [7] - The historical reliance on employer-provided pensions has diminished, leading to a lack of personal retirement planning [6] Group 2: Recommendations for Improvement - The study emphasizes that feelings of retirement security are not solely based on financial data but also on personal perceptions, which can be influenced by financial literacy [4] - Improving financial literacy education in K-12 curriculums could help future generations better prepare for retirement and potentially enhance the U.S. ranking in the future [7]