More retirees say they're 'living a nightmare' — surpassing those 'living the dream' for the first time, study finds

More than two-thirds of moving Americans deliberation that they won't person capable wealth to discontinue comfortably, according to a caller survey by wealthiness absorption steadfast Schroders (1). And much than fractional of retirees aren't definite however agelong their savings volition past (2).

These worries travel astatine a clip erstwhile wages are lagging portion ostentation races ahead, making mundane necessities similar state and groceries much costly (3). This makes it harder for moving Americans to prevention up for status — and puts retirees surviving connected a fixed income successful a tricky spot.

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"Retirees are warring the affordability situation with a fixed excavation of assets and nary 2nd chances," said Deb Boyden, who works arsenic the caput of U.S. defined publication astatine Schroders. "With lifespans extending good into the 80's and beyond, your savings whitethorn request to enactment for you for 3 oregon 4 decades."

Here's what's making retirees truthful stressed — and wherefore immoderate moving Americans are giving up anticipation of ever retiring.

Retirees acquisition important accent implicit their finances — and it's hurting their wellness

According to Schroders, implicit a 3rd of retirees are disquieted that accent implicit their finances volition interaction their carnal health. Almost 30% person mislaid slumber implicit it, compared to 25% successful 2025 (4).

Retirees were fixed 5 options to picture their existent fiscal situation: "living the dream," "comfortable," "not large but not bad," "struggling," and "living the nightmare." In 2025, 5% of respondents said they were "living the dream," portion 3% said they were "living the nightmare."

In 2026, lone 4% of respondents said they were surviving the dream, portion 5% of respondents said they were surviving the nightmare. More respondents reported they were struggling successful 2026 than 2025, astatine a complaint of 19% versus 16%.

Retirees' large concerns included ostentation weakening their status assets, precocious healthcare costs, and fearfulness of a marketplace downturn.

Healthcare costs person been steadily expanding for retirees. Fidelity's 2025 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate says that the mean 65-year-old retiring successful 2025 should expect to wage $172,500 successful wellness attraction during status — up 4% versus 2024 (5).