Schroders Finds 1 in 5 Retirees Struggle Financially as 90% Fear Inflation Erodes Savings
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · May 21
Schroders Finds 1 in 5 Retirees Struggle Financially as 90% Fear Inflation Erodes Savings
5 articles · Updated · CBS New York · May 21
One in five retirees surveyed by Schroders said they are struggling financially, with inflation, healthcare costs and market swings driving fresh anxiety about making savings last.
About 90% cited inflation as a top concern, 87% worried about higher-than-expected healthcare costs, 81% feared a major market downturn and 68% said they were concerned about outliving retirement savings.
April inflation outpaced retirees' income support: Social Security's 2026 cost-of-living adjustment was 2.8%, below the latest CPI increase, leaving benefits with less purchasing power.
Separate Allianz research points to the same pressure, finding 67% fear outliving savings more than death and 42% retire earlier than planned, often after health problems or job loss.
The findings underscore a broader retirement risk: fixed assets must cover decades of spending, while many Americans still lack a written financial plan.
With most retirees dying with 80% of their savings, is the real retirement crisis a fear-driven failure to spend?
Trapped between fear of ruin and regret of frugality, how can retirees confidently spend the money they worked a lifetime to save?
Social Security's inflation metric is failing retirees. What policy changes could fix this widening gap before it's too late?
2026 US Retirement Reality: Key Findings, Challenges, and Solutions from the Schroders Survey
Overview
In early 2026, US retirees are facing a challenging financial landscape shaped by renewed inflation and rising living costs. Many regret not planning more thoroughly for retirement, as highlighted by Schroders' 2026 US Retirement Survey. This sense of regret is intensified by an affordability crisis, where retirees must manage with fixed assets and have few chances to recover financially. The resurgence of inflation, after a period of cooling since the pandemic, has reignited worries about rising prices, making it even harder for retirees to maintain their standard of living and underscoring the importance of better financial preparation.