Most Americans, particularly women, are woefully underprepared for retirement, with four out of 10 women having less than $10,000 saved, and only 21% having more than $100,000 in all of their investment accounts, according to research from Mintel.
Approximately 58% of single women over the age of 45 who have any kind of savings or retirement account have less than $50,000 saved, while only 22% have more than $100,000 saved. At the same time, these women are aware of their need to step up their savings efforts, as only 5% of 45- to 54-year-old women and 16% of 55- to 64-year-old women believe they are saving enough for their twilight years.
“Women nearing retirement age believe saving for retirement is very important, and women aged 25-44 are the most likely to rate saving for retirement as their top financial goal over the next year,” says Mintel vice president and behavioral economist Susan Menke. “While it may be too late for older women, research suggests that younger women are starting to save early and may not end up in the same predicament.”
Thirty-six percent of women who aren't retired yet say they plan to keep working at least part-time during retirement because they expect they will need the income. That number increases to 50% for women who are 55- to 64-years-old. Lack of retirement planning is evident in that only 13% of women who aren't retired say they have determined the age at which they will be able to do so.
Michael Cohn is editor-in-chief of Accounting Today, a SourceMedia publication.
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2 Comments
Posted by: Younicycle | December 11, 2012 6:50 AM
Employers' strategy is skewed. More brochures, videos & meetings are not the answer to increasing employee enrollment & participation. 'John/Jane Doe' examples are weak substitutes for personalization of *each* employee's current position, possible contributions, employer match, net out-of-pocket, along with simple calcs of projected Future Value based on modest % or growth, along with a personalized overlay area chart.I'll be following up on this in SHRM Connect, but for now: blog.younicycle.com/2012/08/postgresql-and-retirement-planningMany employees cannot make the leap from Jane D. to their own personal situation and I put that on employers failing to close the loop. Inform - Educate - Personalize.
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Posted by: Younicycle | December 11, 2012 6:48 AM
Employers' strategy is skewed. More brochures, videos & meetings are not the answer to increasing employee enrollment & participation. 'John/Jane Doe' examples are weak substitutes for personalization of *each* employee's current position, possible contributions, employer match, net out-of-pocket, along with simple calcs of projected Future Value based on modest % or growth, along with a personalized overlay area chart.I'll be following up on this in SHRM Connect, but for now: http://blog.younicycle.com/2012/08/postgresql-and-retirement-planning.htmlMany employees cannot make the leap from Jane D. to their own personal situation and I put that on employers failing to close the loop. Inform - Educate - Personalize.
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