Even one of the greatest financial downfalls in U.S. history hasn't been enough to get people to take retirement planning more seriously, according to a new survey.
The report by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) found that a 2009 survey of pre-retirees and retirees mirrored the results of a similar undertaking in 2007, before the collapse of the financial markets. Namely, that Americans are neglecting their financial planning and are ill-prepared for their retirement years.
The study found, for example, that inflation and health care costs are the top two concerns of pre-retirees and retirees, but neither group is aggressively addressing those concerns through proper financial planning. Twenty-six percent of pre-retirees, for example, do not hve plans to calculate how inflation may impact their income in retirement. Nearly half of the retirees surveyed, 49%, and 67% of pre-retirees expressed concern about having enough money to pay for adequate health care.
The report also found little change in the number of people planning to work as long as possible to afford retirement between 2007 and 2009.
Among the other findings:
- Slightly more than half of pre-retirees said they've already saved as much as they can.
- Less than a quarter of pre-retirees do not plan on completely paying off their mortgage.
- Twenty-eight percent of pre-retirees plan to retire from their primary occupation at age 65.
- About 20% of retirees plan to move to a smaller home or less expensive area.
- Eight percent of retirees said they plan to buy long-term care insurance, compared to 9% in 2007.
- About three quarters of retirees had no plans to purchase a financial product that guarantees a level of income for life.