Most in a new Axios|SurveyMonkey poll say they are hopeful about their own prospects for retirement, but that hopefulness is closely tied to financial stability.
Overall, 58% of people say they feel more hopeful than fearful when thinking about their own retirement. By a more than two-to-one margin, adults with household incomes in the six figures say they are more hopeful than fearful (69% vs. 29%). Those with incomes under $50,000 are evenly split, with 49% saying they are more hopeful and 48% more fearful.
Financial concerns are top of mind when workers look ahead to retirement:
- 55% of those age 35 to 44 and 53% of those age 45 to 54 saying they expect to outlive their retirement savings.
- A large majority of people (83%) expect to continue doing some work for pay even after they retire. More workers say they expect to continue working past full retirement age out of financial necessity (52%) rather than simply out of professional enjoyment (38%) or for some other reason (nine percent).
- Relatively few people expect to retire early; 44% of people say they will likely retire after age 65, and 15% say they expect to retire exactly at the current full retirement age of 65. Another 20% expect to retire between ages 60 and 64, 12% expect to retire between the ages of 55 and 59, and just nine percent expect to retire before reaching age 55.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Click through all the results in the interactive toplines below:
Do you feel more hopeful or more fearful when thinking about your own retirement?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,626 1,341 1,285 NET more hopeful 58%64%51%Much more hopeful 21%24%19%Somewhat more hopeful 36%41%32%NET more fearful 40%34%46%Somewhat more fearful 27%24%30%Much more fearful 13%9%16%No answer 2%2%3%Question wording: Do you feel more hopeful or more fearful when thinking about your own retirement?Survey dates: –At what age do you expect to retire?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 1,948 991 957 Under 55 9%9%8%55 - 59 12%13%11%60 - 64 20%19%21%65 15%13%17%Over 65 44%45%43%No answer 0%0%1%Question wording: At what age do you expect to retire?Survey dates: –Thinking about your retirement savings, do you think it’s most likely that you will outlive your savings, your savings will outlive you, or your savings will be just about right to cover your needs throughout your retirement?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,626 1,341 1,285 I will outlive my savings 46%45%47%My savings will outlive me 19%21%17%My savings will be just about right to cover my needs throughout my retirement 33%33%34%No answer 2%1%2%Question wording: Thinking about your retirement savings, do you think it’s most likely that you will outlive your savings, your savings will outlive you, or your savings will be just about right to cover your needs throughout your retirement?Survey dates: –How likely is it that you will do any work for pay during your retirement?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 1,948 991 957 Net likely 83%84%83%Very likely 45%46%44%Somewhat likely 39%38%40%Net not likely 15%15%15%Not so likely 11%11%11%Not likely at all 4%4%4%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: How likely is it that you will do any work for pay during your retirement?Survey dates: –If you end up working past the full retirement age, do you think it will be more because of:
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 1,948 991 957 Financial necessity 52%46%59%Something else (please specify) 9%9%9%Professional enjoyment 38%44%31%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: If you end up working past the full retirement age, do you think it will be more because of:Survey dates: –Have you ever done any work for pay during your retirement?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 678 350 328 Yes 34%36%32%No 65%63%67%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: Have you ever done any work for pay during your retirement?Survey dates: –Which of the following best describes you?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,028 1,522 1,506 Employed - working full time 51%57%46%Employed - working part time 12%8%15%Not employed - student 7%7%6%Not employed - retired 17%17%17%Not employed - looking for paid work 7%7%7%Not employed - not looking for paid work 5%3%6%No answer 1%1%2%Question wording: Which of the following best describes you?Survey dates: –
Question text:
Do you feel more hopeful or more fearful when thinking about your own retirement?
At what age do you expect to retire?
Thinking about your retirement savings, do you think it’s most likely that you will outlive your savings, your savings will outlive you, or your savings will be just about right to cover your needs throughout your retirement?
How likely is it that you will do any work for pay during your retirement?
If you end up working past the full retirement age, do you think it will be more because of:
Have you ever done any work for pay during your retirement?
*employees
