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PensionBee Q3 Report Finds
Nearly half of Americans (47%) now feel positive about their retirement outlook, according to the PensionBee Q3 Happy Retirement Report. That optimism is rising, with “very positive” responses climbing four points since May, while negative sentiment dropped sharply from 23% to 17%.
Despite ongoing market volatility and Social Security uncertainty, Baby Boomers reported the highest levels of optimism at 57%, followed by Gen X (45%), Millennials (44%), and Gen Z (43%).
Actions that Shape Retirement Confidence
The report finds a clear link between specific saving behaviors and retirement sentiment, revealing the actions most likely to influence how respondents feel about their retirement:
- Starting late hurts confidence: Americans who delay saving past the age of 30 are 56% more likely to feel negative about retirement.
- Structure matters: Those who feel negative about retirement are 67% more likely to have just an unstructured retirement plan than the general population. Only 7% of this group have a consistent saving plan in place, compared to 55% of those who feel positive.
- Engagement Drives Optimism: Americans who feel good about retirement are more likely to use planning tools like retirement calculators (9% higher), consolidate accounts (29% higher), and consistently maximize employer matches (32% higher) than the general population.
“Actively engaging with your retirement can help you maximize the potential of your money while minimizing invisible costs that can quietly add up,” said Romi Savova, CEO of PensionBee. “Every dollar counts when you're planning decades ahead.”
