Shawn McClary

A survey of 878 US workers age 50+ found retirement plans shifting as rising costs and volatility reshaped expectations for life after full-time work.
In Mid-Q1 2026, 75% said they were delaying retirement, while 91% said inflation or tariffs had affected their plans or outlook.
Top worries centered on healthcare or long-term care at 55%, outliving savings at 49%, stock market instability at 30%, and buying-power erosion at 21%.
Economic strain was already hitting savings: 61% regularly withdrew retirement funds for everyday expenses, 30% dipped in occasionally, and just 8% held off.
Confidence kept weakening. 45% said inflation and tariffs made them rethink their entire plan, 46% made smaller adjustments, and 41% changed investments.
The findings suggested retirement had become an ongoing adjustment for older workers, with financial security increasingly tied to adapting plans instead of following fixed timelines.

Older Workers Rethink Retirement Security

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