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- calendar_today November 12, 2026
Understanding how well Americans are preparing for retirement is essential for individuals, policymakers, and investors alike. Recent reports from the Federal Reserve paint a nuanced picture of retirement readiness among U.S. adults, revealing both broad trends and persistent gaps across demographic groups.
Overall Preparedness: Assets and Accounts
A majority of U.S. adults have at least some assets set aside specifically for retirement. In the most recent survey, 67% of adults had assets designated for producing retirement income, such as a 401(k), IRA, or an employer-sponsored defined benefit pension. Of these, 61% reported having a tax-preferred retirement account, while 29% had a defined benefit pension, a figure in line with recent years and reflecting the ongoing decline of traditional pensions in favor of defined contribution plans (Federal Reserve 2026 Report).
Perceived Retirement Security
Despite ownership of these accounts, only 35% of non-retired adults feel their retirement savings are on track. This share is unchanged from the previous year and remains below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that many Americans have lingering concerns about their financial security in retirement (Federal Reserve 2026 Report).
Demographic Disparities in Preparedness
The Federal Reserve data highlight key disparities in retirement preparedness across demographic groups:
- Income: Only 7% of non-retirees with family incomes below $25,000 report that their retirement savings are on track, compared to 59% among those earning $100,000 or more.
- Age: Perceived preparedness grows consistently with age: 22% of those aged 18–29 feel on track, increasing to 53% for those 60 and over.
- Race/Ethnicity: Black and Hispanic non-retirees are less likely than White or Asian non-retirees to report retirement savings on track (23%–24% for Black and Hispanic adults, versus 43% for White and Asian adults).
- Gender: Men are somewhat more likely than women to view their retirement savings as on track (39% versus 32%).
- Disability Status: Only 15% of non-retirees with a disability feel prepared for retirement, compared to 39% of those without a disability.
Emergency and Rainy-Day Savings
Retirement security is closely linked with overall financial resilience. The share of adults who could cover a $400 emergency expense with cash or its equivalent remains at 63%. Meanwhile, 55% say they have rainy day funds sufficient to cover three months of expenses, a figure unchanged from last year but below the pandemic-era peak (Federal Reserve 2026 Report). Similar disparities appear here: higher-income, older, Asian, and male adults are more likely than other groups to have adequate emergency savings.
The Big Picture
While most Americans have taken steps toward retirement preparedness, only a minority feel that they are on track, and significant disparities remain tied to income, age, race, gender, and disability. This Federal Reserve data underscores the ongoing challenges—and opportunities—for improving retirement security in the United States (full report).
