Retiree Survey

Retiree Retirement Amid COVID-19

Life in Retirement: Pre-Retiree Expectations and Retiree Realities (2023)

Retirees and pre-retirees face longevity risks from declining finances and deteriorating health in older age, as they navigate a turbulent post-pandemic economy. Unlike younger workers with a long time horizon until they retire, retirees and pre-retirees have little time to recover from financial shocks. Retirement often also involves living on limited financial means vis-à-vis Social Security, workplace retirement benefits, and personal savings and investments. Despite these challenges, they are living happy, purposeful albeit financially vulnerable lives. Based on the 23rd Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, this report explores their visions of aging and retirement, when and how retirement happens, life in retirement and their financial situation. 

Downloadable Materials: 

Life in Retirement: Pre-Retiree Expectations and Retiree Realities Report 
Press Release - September 28, 2023

Retirees and Retirement Amid COVID-19 (2020)

This new report from TCRS' third survey of retirees - which includes research conducted in late 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic and additional research conducted in June 2020. The findings illustrate that many retirees were financially vulnerable before the pandemic. However, the majority (75 percent) say their confidence in their ability to maintain a comfortable lifestyle through retirement has stayed the same in light of the pandemic. The report also offers actionable insights for current and future retirees.
 
Downloadable Materials: 

Retirees and Retirement Amid COVID-19 Report
Press Release - September 3, 2020

A Precarious Existence: How Today’s Retirees Are Financially Faring in Retirement (2018)

This new report from TCRS' second survey of retirees illustrates the issues and opportunities retirees face. It also offers actionable insights for current and future retirees. The survey finds that retirees retired at age 63 (median) and 56 percent retired sooner than planned.

Downloadable Materials:

A Precarious Existence: How Today’s Retirees Are Financially Faring in Retirement Report
Press Release - December 18, 2018

The Current State of Retirement:
Compendium of Findings About American Retirees (2016)

This report, based on TCRS’ first-ever survey of retirees, provides in-depth perspectives on retirees including attitudes about life in retirement, time commitments, living arrangements, and personal finances. The Compendium offers more than 50 indicators of retirees’ health and wealth by age range.

Key highlights include:

  • Just getting by and/or covering basic living expenses is retirees’ most frequently cited financial priority.
  • Social Security is the cornerstone of retirement income.
  • Retirees’ confidence about maintaining their lifestyle exceeds the size of their retirement nest eggs.
  • Most retirees are happy and enjoying life.
Downloadable Materials:

The Current State of Retirement: A Compendium of Findings About American Retirees
Press Release - April 28, 2016

Infographics and Shareable Images:

Portrait of Today's Retirees Infographic
Portrait of Retirees' Finances Infographic
How Retirees Spend Their Time
Retirees' Greatest Fears
Retirees' Financial Priorities
Important Criteria in Retirees' Choice of Where to Live in Retirement

The Current State of Retirement: 
Pre-Retiree Expectations and Retiree Realities (2015)

This study compares and contrasts the retirement outlook of age 50+ workers with the actual experiences of retirees. It finds that pre-retirees' ideas of retirement are different than the actual experiences of retirees. While many age 50+ workers expect to work beyond age 65 and/or work in retirement, those who are currently retired entered retirement at a median age of 62. Many retirees retired before they had planned to, often due to circumstances beyond their control.

Key findings include:

  • Retirees indicate their employer offered little in the way of retirement transition assistance. Fewer than 10 percent say their most recent employer offered flexible work arrangements, retirement seminars, or financial counseling.
  • Seventy-six percent of retirees wish that they would have saved more on a consistent basis. Fifty-three percent agree that they would have liked more information and advice from their employers on how to achieve retirement goals.
  • Among the 60 percent who retired sooner than planned, two-thirds retired for employment-related reasons including organizational changes at their place of work, job loss, being unhappy with their job or career, or receiving a retirement incentive or buyout.
Downloadable Materials:

The Current State of Retirement: Pre-Retiree Expectations and Retireee Realities Report
Press Release - December 2, 2015