New Report: Economic Fears Driving Retirees Back to Work

In a year when more American savers will turn 65 than at any point in history, those in or near retirement reflect on what went right and missed opportunities

Columbus, Ohio — This year, more Americans will turn 65 years old than at any point in history, with roughly 12,000 people a day reaching the age most target for retirement. A new survey from the Nationwide Retirement Institute® reveals that many adults in this age range are not as financially comfortable as they expected to be at this stage of life.

Nationwide® surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers ages 60-65 about their concerns, expectations and lessons learned for retirement planning. The survey found one-third of current retirees in this age range are considering returning to work, with half (50%) citing the fear of running out of money or currently running out of money as their top reason for doing so. Survey respondents say the biggest threat to their retirement security is inflation at 90%, followed by cuts to Social Security benefits (84%) and cuts to Medicare/Medicaid benefits (83%).
woman working at a desk

There is a significant gap between the realities of current retirees and the expectations of adults ages 60-65 who are still working. These include:

  • Unrealistic estimates about basic living expenses: Current workers underestimate the percentage of income they’ll spend on basic living expenses in retirement. They expect to spend 42% of their income on food, housing and other basic expenses, while retirees actually spend 53% on those expenses.
  • Lower retirement security than anticipated: 77% of respondents who are currently working say they expect to be comfortable in retirement, while only 68% of current retirees actually feel comfortable.
  • Retiring ahead of schedule: 64% of current retirees stopped working earlier than planned, which can reduce important years to save for retirement. The average age of retirement was 60, while the average age of expected retirement was 67.
  • Safety net shortfall: 36% of retirees said they received less in Social Security benefits than they expected. If Congress does not take action, future retirees can expect a 23% cut in benefits, according to the Social Security Administration. Nearly three-fourths (74%) of current retirees said this cut would impact their retirement “a lot,” with 71% of those still working saying the same. Only 41% of survey respondents expect Social Security to exist in its current form throughout their retirement.    

“As we enter a period of peak retirement in our country, many retirees will face harsh reality checks if they missed opportunities to prepare for this moment,” said John Carter, President and COO of Nationwide Financial. “For decades, millions of investors have focused on accumulation without a plan for how they will use that money to live in retirement. In the future, success will be determined based on whether or not retirees have enough income to cover their needs. With fewer young people able to count on defined benefit pensions and uncertainty around the future of Social Security, younger savers should focus on simple things they can control right now to set themselves up for success in the future. There is reason to be optimistic, but retirement savers need to act now to ensure success.”

Advice respondents would give to their younger selves


Survey respondents have words of wisdom to pass down to younger generations. When asked what advice they would give their younger selves aboutretirement planning, many emphasized the difference between what they expected and what they experienced.

  • Almost a quarter of survey respondents (23%) said to expect you’ll need more money than you think.
  • Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) said not to assume you can work for as long as you’d like.
  • The vast majority gave tried-and-true advice, including start saving early (63%), start planning early (41%), and don’t live above your means (34%).
  • Retirees cited working with a financial professional, saving early, maxing out retirement plan contributions and retirement plan auto increases as actions that most helped their retirement security.
  • Bad investments, extravagant purchases, tapping retirement savings early and waiting until after age 30 to start saving were cited as actions that most harmed their retirement security.

“These words of advice from those who have reached retirement provide great points of reference for American savers at every stage of the retirement planning journey,” Carter said.

Survey methodology


Edelman Data and Intelligence (DXI) conducted a nationally representative online survey of 1,000 U.S. residents aged 60-to-65 on behalf of Nationwide from November 2 – 29, 2023.

As a member in good standing with the Insights Association as well as ESOMAR, Edelman Data and Intelligence conducts all research in accordance with local, national and international laws as well as in line with all Market Research Standards and Guidelines.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a FORTUNE 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products, including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; and pet, motorcycle and boat insurance.