Retirement Reconsidered and Redesigned
More and more often, people are looking at retirement as a process, not a milestone. F&G’s fourth annual retirement survey revealed that Americans over 501 are taking a more personalized, individual approach to their retirement plans.
The definition of retirement is changing
For many of our survey respondents, retirement is changing. It’s no longer a single moment when they intend to stop working and has become more of a gradual transition that can include part-time work, reducing their working hours, consulting or starting their own businesses. 51% of pre-retirees plan to semi-retire, instead of fully retiring all at once. And 75% have considered or are delaying retirement all together. At the same time, nearly two-thirds of pre-retirees view retirement as an opportunity to reinvent themselves and try something new. It's all part of a new trend of semi-retirement, a concept that is becoming popular with a new generation approaching or beginning retirement.
53%
More than
half (53%) of
Americans 50+ agree the journey to retirement is becoming more
flexible.
60%
60%
of pre-retirees see
retirement as a “gradual transition over time” instead of a single
milestone.
21%
Only 21%
of pre-retirees
associate retirement with stopping work completely.
Americans, no matter their savings or income bracket, aren’t simply reconsidering when they retire; they’re reconsidering what retirement itself looks like. For some, that means choosing to work less, transitioning gradually into retirement or even reinventing themselves in a new chapter, while for others, financial realities are forcing them to adjust their plans.” - Conor Murphy, CEO and President, F&G
Retirement doesn't look the same across generations. While older generations are more likely to view retirement as a milestone where they stop work completely, 55% of Generation X sees it as a gradual transition from working to not working, pioneering a shift toward semi-retirement.2
Economic pressures increasingly impact retirement decisions
Retirees and pre-retirees are changing the definition of retirement for personal reasons - but financial and economic pressures continue to factor in. More than half (51%) of pre-retirees surveyed say they expect to retire later than originally planned, up from 45% in 2025.
Running
out of money during retirement
The
availability of Social Security
Healthcare
and long-term care expenses
The
availability of Medicare
Financial and economic pressures are increasingly weighing on peoples' minds as they contemplate retirement. Americans age 50 and over report that economic and other external factors are having a greater impact on their decision-making than they did a year ago. More than half (57%) say the events of 2026 have impacted their retirement planning, up from 49% in 2025. Among pre-retirees, that rose up to 70%, up from 61% last year.
All respondents
Pre-retirees
The roadmap to retirement is no longer a straight line, which makes personalized financial planning increasingly important. A financial professional can help individuals think through how their assets will support the different stages of retirement and build a customized plan that provides greater predictability along the way.” - Ron Barrett, Chief Distribution Officer, F&G
In a changing retirement landscape, predictability is key
Amid changing attitudes about retirement and continuing economic pressure, Americans are prioritizing financial certainty and predictability.
75% prefer greater financial certainty and predictable income, even if it limits investment growth potential.
67% say they feel the need to invest or increase investment in products that deliver guaranteed income in the future, rising to 73% among Gen X2.
For retirees and pre-retirees looking to reduce risk in their retirement portfolios, guaranteed income products like annuities, and protection products, such as indexed universal life insurance, can offer additional stability.
An important first step for potential retirees is to connect with a financial professional, who can help them explore options to meet their personal goals. It's a proactive step pre-retirees can take to reduce their worries and feel more confident in their financial plans. With only 20% of Americans over 50 giving themselves an A grade on their financial retirement readiness, there's a lot of room for improvement - and a good financial professional can guide the way.
Explore Past Research
1 Respondents were Americans ages 50+ who are financial decision-makers and have $100K+ in financial products or savings.
2 Generation X survey respondents are ages 50-61, Baby Boomer generation respondents are agents 62-80 and Silent Generation respondents are ages 81 or older.
Survey Methodology
This research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2001 US Adults Aged 50+, 'decision-makers' for household finances (or shared decision making), with $100k+ investable assets. The data was collected between 8/4/2026 – 8/31/2026.
"F&G" is the marketing name for Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company issuing insurance in the United States outside of New York. Life insurance and annuities issued by Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company, Des Moines, IA.
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