Success in retirement is subjective and measured differently across financial, emotional, and health-related metrics. Based on 2025 and early 2026 data, here is how retirees are currently classified as ‘successful’
- Only 27% of retirees report being ‘very confident’ that they can maintain a comfortable lifestyle throughout their retirement.
- Approximately 66% have maintained their pre-retirement standard of living, though 30% have faced financial hardships.
- 89% identify as a “generally happy person”
- Roughly 41% of retirees report their happiness and enjoyment of life improved after leaving the workforce.
- 52% left the workforce earlier than planned due to health or employment issues.
Though the statistics show improvement compared to previous years, what responsibility does an employer or financial professional have in assisting employees/clients achieve retirement success?
It’s been argued the primary responsibility rests on the pre-retirees/post-retirees actions and decisions. This includes saving consistently, managing a budget, creating and monitoring a retirement plan, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, defining purpose, to name a few.
Role of Employers/Financial Advisors
What is the responsibility of employers? Some help their employees facilitate success by offering matching contribution retirement plans. They provide educational resources such as workshops and/or webinars, books and articles on retirement and provide training to HR professionals and management on how best to support employees transitioning into retirement.
Financial advisors, though they help clients navigate complex financial decisions and manage investments, some play the role of retirement counselor. This means engaging clients in discussions about lifestyle, health, relationships, identity and purpose.
Rewards for Employers/Advisors
Employers
- Satisfaction in helping loyal, long service employees achieve their retirement goals.
- Satisfied employees demonstrate higher morale and productivity.
- Serves as part of the corporate citizenship role model
Financial advisors
- Conversations are more than asset accumulation, allocation and wealth transfer.
- By helping clients plan for life after work, advisors gain a better understanding of client needs.
- Happy, healthy clients live longer
- Clients tell others. Word of mouth is a powerful thing.
Next Steps?
As a responsible employer or advisor, it’s time to explore how to best assist employees and clients achieve retirement success. If this is a question of interest, I welcome your inquiry.