Americans are feeling more optimistic about their chances of a secure retirement — a lot more.
A new study from Natixis Investment Managers shows the number of U.S. investors who believe it will “take a miracle” to achieve retirement security dropped to 21% in 2025, a major change from 39% in 2023 [1].
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This big swing in attitude is largely attributed to the excellent performance of the stock market. The S&P 500 has delivered two back-to-back years of returns over 20%, outpacing its historical return rate of around 10% (not adjusted for inflation). This is in stark contrast to 2022, when sluggish markets delivered a return of approximately -18%.
But despite the renewed confidence, 69% of American investors say the world presently feels unstable, and they worry about their finances. Inflation and high living costs also continue to cast a long shadow.
So, how can investors balance the advantage of these jumps in their portfolios with rising costs? Here are some steps you can take to bolster your retirement security.
The impact of inflation
Inflation has been a primary source of anxiety. Around 41% of Americans surveyed by Natixis are worried about inflation’s impact on their retirement security, while 60% say they’ve cut back on savings because of high living expenses. This has sparked concern that savings and investment gains simply won’t go as far when it’s time for people to retire.
“When they look at how they’re feeling about retirement, they feel good overall, but there are certain things that are making them uncomfortable,” Dave Goodsell, executive director of the Natixis Center for Investor Insight, told CNBC [2] in an article published Sept. 9.
Concern about running out of money in retirement is also rampant, with one survey from Allianz reporting that 64% of Americans worry more about this issue in retirement than they do about dying.
Read more: I’m almost 50 and have nothing saved for retirement — what now? Don’t panic. These 6 easy steps can help you turn things around
Bolster your retirement security
Natixis’s study includes rankings of the best countries for retirement in the world, based on factors such as quality of life, finances and health. The U.S. ranks 21st this year, scoring lower in terms of material wellbeing and quality of life.
Regardless, there are still a number of steps individuals can take to ensure their own retirement is as comfortable as possible.
- If you’re concerned about outliving your money, consider delaying your Social Security claim until age 70. This would mean leaning more heavily on savings for a number of years, but will result in a larger benefit check.
- The closer you get to retirement, consider shifting your investments toward more conservative financial vehicles (like CDs). Potential gains may be lowered, but you’ll be insulated against market volatility.
- Make a clear plan about how you draw down your assets with your financial advisor.
- Look into fighting inflation with investments like Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) which offer returns that vary with the inflation rate.
- Spending patterns tend to change in retirement. Build a budget for your golden years ahead of time, accounting for expenses related to health care and any planned lifestyle changes.
- Understand your projected life expectancy based on your age, risk factors and family history, and prepare accordingly. If you expect health-related costs to increase as you grow older, adjust your savings with this in mind.
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[1]. Natixis Investment Managers. “2025 Global Retirement Index”
[2]. CNBC. “Fewer people think retirement will ‘take a miracle,’ report finds. But inflation worries persist”
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Fewer Americans counting on a ‘miracle’ to retire comfortably — but here’s what still keeps them up at night
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