Income: Schroders US Retirement Survey

Learn more about the income sources Americans are planning to draw upon to meet their expenses in retirement.

AI Anxiety Hits Retirement Savers

Schroders recently surveyed 1,500 U.S. investors to gain insights into their retirement readiness and how they expect to meet future expenses after leaving the workforce.  The results reveal significant concerns over how long their savings will last, the impact AI could have on their careers, and the future of Social Security.

  • 52% of non-retired Americans are “concerned” or “very concerned” about outliving their assets in retirement.
  • On average, non-retired Americans believe they must generate $5,094 in monthly income to retire comfortably – up slightly from $5,032 just one year ago.
  • 48% are concerned that AI will force them into retirement sooner than planned.
  • 45% are planning to file for Social Security benefits before reaching age 67 – the full retirement age for everyone born in 1960 or later, and just 10% plan to wait until age 70, when an individual reaches their maximum monthly benefit.
  • 40% of non-retired Americans fear Social Security will run out of money before they can claim benefits.

Additional findings:

  • Beyond Social Security, non-retired Americans are planning to rely on the following sources to generate this monthly income: Cash savings (55%), Workplace 401k, 403b or 457 plan (48%), Investment income (33%), a spouse’s 401k, 403b or 457 plan (27%), and a pension plan (21%).
  • For non-retired Americans with a workplace retirement plan, 74% report that this plan is their single most important retirement asset.
  • Nearly half of retirees (51%) have no specific income-generation strategy. Among those who do, the top three approaches are systematic withdrawals from retirement accounts (26%), CDs (20%), and dividend-producing stocks or mutual funds (20%).

“While there is no single, right age for claiming Social Security, careful planning helps take the emotion out of your decision-making. Knowing your income, spending needs, and whether your investments match these needs will provide clarity that leads to better decisions on how to maximize Social Security.”

Deb Boyden

Head of US Defined Contribution

Press Release

Schroders’ 2026 US Retirement Survey found that many non-retired Americans are worried about outliving their savings, AI disrupting their careers, and Social Security’s future, while many still lack a clear retirement income strategy.

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Contact Us

Deb Boyden, Head of US Defined Contribution

Deb.Boyden@Schroders.com