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July 4, 2025

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Nearly 1 in 4 Women Have Less Than One Month of Retirement Savings After a Marital Transition

PensionBee
4 minute read

Data reveals that nearly one in four divorced, separated, or widowed women in the U.S. has less than one month’s worth of retirement savings.

Life Transitions Compound Gender Differences

While 42% of Americans overall have less than one year of retirement savings, the outlook is far worse for women, who are nearly twice as likely as men to have alarmingly low retirement savings. 38% of women report less than six months of savings compared to just 23% of men. For those navigating life after divorce or widowhood, the outcome is considerably worse. Among separated, divorced, and widowed women:

  • 23% could not survive for more than one month on their retirement savings
  • Only 38% plan to increase retirement contributions in the coming year, compared to 57% of men facing the same circumstances
  • Just 4% maxed out annual contribution limits for at least one retirement account compared to 11% of separated, divorced, or widowed men

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"These aren't just retirement statistics, they're warning signs," said Romi Savova, CEO of PensionBee. "What our data reveals is that the gender retirement gap is real. Women face disproportionate financial risks during life transitions, and these risks can turn personal hardship into long-term retirement insecurity."

Structural Barriers, Not Personal Choices

The disparity extends beyond savings to planning behaviors themselves. Following a marital transition, women (43%) are twice as likely as men (21%) to report having a loose retirement plan and may lack clear retirement goals. Just 9% of divorced, widowed, or separated women report working with a financial advisor on their retirement, compared to 18% of men undergoing the same life transition.

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Crisis Behaviors Signal System Breakdown

PensionBee's findings reflect what research has long shown: marriage provides structural advantages for retirement planning, leading to better retirement outcomes for married couples. But the data also reveals that when these structures break down, the financial disruption affects everyone, even when women bear a disproportionate burden.

Among separated, divorced, and widowed individuals of all genders, 23% reported taking hardship withdrawals compared to 17% of married couples. Only 13% say they contribute enough to receive full employer matching compared to 24% of married people, and just 7% maxed out annual contribution limits compared to 19% of those who were married.

Retirement sentiment is highest among those who are married, with both men and women reporting considerable blows to their outlook following a major marital transition. While 50% of married people report a positive view of retirement, that number drops to 28% for women and 31% for men following divorce, separation or widowhood.

The numbers aren’t personal setbacks. Women are already behind when it comes to retirement savings, and are more likely to experience financial hardship following divorce. Add a retirement system built for stable, dual-income households, and when the foundation shifts, it’s women who pay the highest price.

Survey Methodology*

Participation Details: The survey data was gathered and sent out by Attest between May 9, 2025, and May 13, 2025, to a total of 1,000 respondents across the 18 - 100 age groups. The margin of error for total respondents is +/-3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Audience data was weighted to represent the target population of U.S. adults age 18 or older.

Voluntary Participation: Participation in the survey was voluntary. Respondents were free to decline participation or skip any questions they chose not to answer.

Your investment can go down as well as up. This survey is provided solely for informational and educational purposes and should not be relied upon as sole decision-making tools. Nothing presented here constitutes tax, legal, financial or investment advice. This information does not take into account the specific financial, legal or tax situation, objectives, risk tolerance, or investment needs of any individual investor. All information provided is based on publicly available data and research at the time of posting. This information, and any associated customer testimonial or third party endorsement, does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any securities or investments. Your investment is at risk. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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