Core Insights - There is a significant disparity in retirement savings among Americans, with most struggling to save adequately for retirement, particularly those earning less than $150,000 annually [1][2][3] Group 1: Retirement Savings Trends - Since 2022, participation rates in retirement plans, total contributions, and overall savings rates have declined for individuals earning less than $150,000 [2] - Workers earning less than $50,000 experienced the most significant declines, with retirement plan participation dropping from 58% in 2022 to 52.9% in 2024, and their overall savings rate decreasing from 4.9% to 4.6% [3] Group 2: Income Disparities - Individuals earning between $150,000 and $250,000 contributed nearly 13 times more to retirement savings annually compared to those earning under $50,000 [4] - Approximately 90% of U.S. individuals aged 15 and older earned less than $150,000 in 2022, highlighting the financial challenges faced by the majority [1][3] Group 3: Economic Pressures - Rising costs of housing, healthcare, transportation, and childcare are pushing immediate needs to the forefront, causing many to deprioritize retirement savings [4] - Delaying retirement savings reduces the time available for accumulation and the benefits of compound growth, increasing the risk of outliving savings as life expectancy rises [4]