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Many Workers Wish They Had Started Saving Earlier
Nine in 10 workers have at least some regret about when they
started saving for retirement, American Century found in a survey of 2,031
defined contribution plan participants. Seventy-five percent said they could
have saved at a little more in the past. More than half point to the first five
years of working as they time when they could have saved more than they did. A
majority said not saving enough for retirement was one of the biggest mistakes
of their lives.
Despite this regret, half of those aged 55 to 65 and 60% of those 25 to 54 admit they
are still saving less than they should.
“Retirement plan participants have a great deal
of regret about their past saving behavior” says Diane Gallagher, vice
president of defined contribution investment only (DCIO) practice management at
American Century. “Plan participants aren’t expecting to be rich. They are
really aspiring for independence, rather than affluence. Also, they realize it’s
important to save through their defined contribution plan, but they look to
their employers to help them establish positive saving and investing patterns.”
In fact, given a choice between two job offers—one with a retirement plan
and one with a higher salary—pre-retirees are five times more likely to choose
the retirement plan offer, demonstrating how much workers, especially older
workers, value employer-sponsored retirement plans.
NEXT: Expectations of their employers
As to using target-date funds as the default investment, 68% of pre-retirees and more than 70% of those aged 25 to 54 are in favor. Few participants believe their employers have done everything possible to help them prepare for retirement. Only 14% of all of those surveyed and 11% of pre-retirees say their employer did everything possible to encourage them to save.
More than 70% said retirement is one of their biggest financial goals, if not the No. 1 goal. However, 90% of pre-retirees and 70% of the younger group expect their standard of living to be roughly the same or worse than it is today.
“Even though plan sponsors don’t think participants want them to intervene, in reality, they are looking for a higher level of support,” Gallagher says. “Participants are willing to make adjustments to their current lifestyle, rather than suffer the consequences later. Although participants are technically able to drive, they are willing to be attentive passengers with their plan sponsors steering the car.”
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