Core Insights - The Longevity Preparedness Index by John Hancock indicates that U.S. adults score only 60 out of 100 in readiness for longer lifespans, highlighting financial preparedness as a significant weakness [1][2] Group 1: Demographic Trends - Life expectancy is increasing, with projections suggesting the 65+ population could reach 82 million by 2050, raising concerns about individuals outliving their savings [2] Group 2: Investment Solutions - Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are presented as an effective investment vehicle for building retirement portfolios, offering low costs, diversification, and flexibility to balance growth and income [3] - Three specific ETFs are recommended for retirement portfolios, emphasizing the importance of aligning them with individual risk tolerance and financial situations [4] Group 3: Recommended ETFs - **Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)**: This ETF tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index, holding around 4,000 U.S. stocks and has historically delivered annualized returns exceeding 10% with a low expense ratio of 0.03% [5][6] - **Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD)**: This ETF focuses on high-quality companies with consistent dividend growth, offering a yield of 3.9% and annualized returns of 12.4% since its inception in 2011, with a low expense ratio of 0.06% [7][8]