2019 Defined Contribution Plan Participant Survey

Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers all have work to do in order to be ready to retire. From more realistic goals and access to retirement savings plans to education, greater incentives, and ESG investment options, employers, policy makers, and asset managers are uniquely positioned to help plan participants reach their goals – and bolster overall retirement security. Download the full report.


Millennials
Ages 23–38


Pluses


Minuses

   The bottom line
Nearly half (43%) are cautiously optimistic that they’ll be comfortable in retirement, though they’ll have to be careful with their spending. Even though they have many decades to go, only 24% of Millennials think they’ll have enough saved to retire comfortably. Download the report.

Generation X
Ages 39–54


Pluses


Minuses

    The bottom line
As the realities of retirement get closer for Generation X, less than one in five (18%) say they'll have enough for retirement to lead the life they desire. 23% say they'll struggle financially and another 23% have thrown in the towel and don't think they'll ever be able to retire. Download the report.

Baby Boomers
Ages 55–73


Pluses


Minuses

    The bottom line
Nearly half (48%) of Baby Boomers say they’ll be comfortable in retirement if they watch their spending. That said, 22% say they’ll struggle financially in retirement, and 10% say they’ll never be able to retire. Download the report.

4 ways to boost retirement security

To help have a more secure retirement, workers need to look at their goals through a more realistic lens and adopt stronger savings behaviors.

Individuals, employers, policy makers, and asset managers will also need to work closely together. Each can play a significant role in addressing critical issues in retirement planning, including:

1. Setting realistic financial goals and plans 3. Delivering education and advice
2. Providing access to retirement savings 4. Offering incentives

ESG investments may also prompt greater retirement savings

Plan participants also noted that being able to align their investments with their personal values would encourage them to save more.

 

ESG funds could play a more important role in retirement savings in the future, but not many plans are on board with this idea yet.


Read the full Report

To learn more about the savings habits and sentiment of plan participants – and to see how individuals, employers, policy makers, and asset managers can help support retirement security in America – download our survey report.

About the 2019 Survey of Defined Contribution Plan Participants
Natixis Investment Managers, Survey of US Defined Contribution Plan Participants conducted by CoreData Research, January and February 2019. Survey included 1000 US workers, 700 being plan participants and 300 being non-participants. Of the 1000 respondents, 503 were Millennials (age 23-38), 249 were Gen X (age 39-54) and 248 were Baby Boomers (age 55-73).

 

 

1 The average Baby Boomer (age 64) needs to save more than $142,000 annually until age 69 to hit their retirement savings goal.

2 The question was asked of 654 respondents not currently invested in ESG-focused funds.

Sustainable investing focuses on investments in companies that relate to certain sustainable development themes and demonstrate adherence to environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices; therefore the Fund's universe of investments may be reduced. It may sell a security when it could be disadvantageous to do so or forgo opportunities in certain companies, industries, sectors or countries. This could have a negative impact on performance depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice.

All investing involves risk, including the risk of loss. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments.

Natixis Distribution, L.P. is a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliates of Natixis Investment Managers.

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