The 2026 State of Retirement Planning study, which Fidelity has been conducted since 2019, examines how people are viewing and planning for retirement.
This year, the study focuses on how individuals across all generations are increasingly taking different paths to retirement, as they embrace a new retirement playbook.
Highlights:
- 72 percent of Americans say they expect to retire on their own terms, up five percentage points from last year. Younger generations are more confident than those closer to traditional retirement age.
- Across all generations, including 50 percent of Baby Boomers, the top savings priority is overcoming the rising cost of living.
- Another 20 percent of Boomers and 36 percent of Gen Xers say paying off personal debts is a top savings priority.
- Retirement is no longer a fixed date for many: 6-in-10 Americans have a plan in place to transition into retirement. Nearly 1-in-4 are unsure what age they’ll retire, and six percent say they will never retire.
