Workers struggle with one big problem when they retire
Retirement readiness involves more than money. Discover the emotional disconnect and biggest fears retirees face. Plan now for financial and mental well-being later.
Many Americans may feel financially prepared for retirement, but the emotional transition and rising health care costs remain significant hurdles, according to a recent survey.
The 2025 Trends in Retirement Planning survey report, released by the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the Journal of Financial Planning with support from Finance of America, gathered feedback from 167 financial planners to offer insights into evolving retirement challenges. And here's what they found.
Financial vs. emotional retirement preparedness
There's a striking disconnect between financial and emotional preparedness. While over half of planners feel their clients are financially ready for retirement, only 11% believe those same clients are emotionally prepared.
The survey found that nearly 60% of planners indicate clients are only moderately emotionally prepared, and 5% believe clients are not prepared at all.
According to the report, clients often grapple with fears about:
- Adapting to no longer working
- Losing their sense of identity
- Potentially becoming a burden to loved ones
