Americans are living longer and embracing the idea of a very long life
And while that’s great news, it’s also a call for greater education around longevity-related issues, thoughtful planning, and purposeful action to help people appropriately prepare.
Increasing longevity presents exciting new opportunities and brings with it important questions that will need to be carefully considered and acted upon.
Funding Longer Lives draws on fresh findings from the 2023 Corebridge Financial Survey on Longevity, shedding new light on Americans’ current expectations, goals and concerns about longevity, the future of work, and retirement.1 It also points the way to potential funding solutions—and of equal importance, highlights key action steps that employers, financial professionals and individuals alike can consider taking to help successfully plan for long, well-lived lives.
A number of key survey findings are shown here. Please download the white paper for complete findings and helpful action steps.
Do you want to live to 100?
Corebridge’s 2023 survey found that just over half (54 percent) of total
survey respondents say their goal is to live to age 100, with nearly two out
of three GenZers (63 percent) saying they want to see 100.
Looking forward to continuing the things that bring meaning
Across all age groups, the top benefits of increased longevity are continuing meaningful relationships with family and friends (72 percent), and getting more time to explore and have new experiences (65 percent).
Witnessing new discoveries (60 percent) and enjoying leisure time in retirement (58 percent) also score highly. Significantly fewer people put a premium on having more time to be productive (33 percent).
These overall findings were largely consistent across the four generations surveyed, with the exception of GenZers, who express the greatest interest in witnessing new discoveries and watching the world evolve.
Concerned about health, independence, and outliving savings
Nearly two-thirds of respondents say the idea of living to 100 raises concerns about serious health problems and reduced quality of life. More than half are extremely or very concerned about running out of money (55 percent), losing independence (58 percent), and being a burden on family (52 percent).
Two-thirds fear running out of money more than death—that’s up from 65 percent in 2022 and 59 percent in 2018. Of the four generations most recently surveyed, GenXers fear running out of money more than death in the greatest numbers, followed by Baby Boomers and then Millennials.
GenZers are the only generation to say they actually fear death more. It’s also interesting to note that even 59 percent of respondents with higher asset levels ($500,000+) still fear running out of money more than death.
Which do you fear more?
Our research revealed that two-thirds of total survey respondents fear
running out of money more than death. For GenXers, this number increases
to nearly three-fourths (72 percent).
Not very confident about their ability to generate lasting income
Just 36 percent of respondents are extremely or very confident they can manage their retirement savings to provide income for as long as they live, with men (44 percent) expressing greater confidence than women (27 percent). By generation, GenXers express the lowest level of confidence at just 32 percent.
Confidence also runs low when it comes to Americans’ expectations that they won’t outlive their money in retirement. Only 27 percent of respondents are extremely or very confident they won’t outlive their retirement savings. This figure dips to just 23 percent of women, compared to 32 percent of men. GenXers, who are likely in their prime earning years and thinking more fully about retirement, are least likely to report high confidence, at only 22 percent.
Seeking more guarantees for retirement income
Securing lifetime income is a priority for 92 percent of respondents, with 65 percent saying it is a high priority—outweighing many other financial-related priorities. Further, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of survey respondents say having protected income for life in retirement has become much or somewhat more important in the past year.
Surprisingly, only 46 percent of respondents say purchasing an annuity is a priority, with just 18 percent saying it is a high priority. This disconnect—between a high desire for guaranteed lifetime income but a low desire for products that can deliver this—highlights the critical need and opportunity for the financial services industry and its professionals to help individuals better understand annuities and the valuable protected lifetime income benefit they offer.
Considering the future of work
If they were to live to 100, 46 percent of those surveyed say they’re extremely or very concerned about the prospect of working an additional 10+ years to fund their retirement.
And while many are not enthused about the prospect of a longer career, others see the potential for career shifts and want lifelong learning opportunities. Faced with the possibility of longer lives and careers, people may be more likely to embrace working longer if they’re able to continue growing and expanding their knowledge and skills to capitalize on new opportunities.
Emerging from the pandemic, Americans also place great value on healthcare benefits and worklife balance. After salary, these two categories rank highest when people are asked which factors are most important in choosing where to work.2
Taking action
Funding longer lives presents unique challenges, but these challenges can be addressed through education, thoughtful planning, greater use of lifetime income solutions, professional financial guidance, and purposeful action.
Corebridge offers a broad range of resources, tools and solutions to help people prepare for increasing longevity and a more secure financial future. At Corebridge, we believe action today can lead to great things tomorrow. Action is everything.
Access our action-oriented future planning tools and resources
Take advantage of our retirement calculators
Broaden and strengthen conversations with clients
Explore our broad suite of protected lifetime income solutions
Corebridge is proud to work with the Longevity Project, a thought partner focused on fostering conversation and building awareness of the implications of longevity.
Together, we’re committed to helping Americans successfully plan for longer lives.
1 Findings shown here are from the “2023 Corebridge Financial Survey on Longevity,” unless otherwise noted.
2 Corebridge Financial, “Retirement, Longevity and the Future of Work Survey,” 2022.
Corebridge Financial and the Longevity Project are not affiliated.
Important information
Annuities are long-term products designed for retirement and offer the opportunity for tax deferral. Annuities offer guaranteed income payments for life at no additional cost through annuitization. Alternatively, some annuities offer lifetime income through standard or optional income benefits available for an additional fee. Other restrictions and limitations apply. There is no assurance that income from an annuity will keep pace with inflation. Early withdrawals may be subject to withdrawal charges. Partial withdrawals may reduce benefits available under the contract, as well as the amount available upon a full surrender. Withdrawals of taxable amounts are subject to ordinary income tax and, if taken prior to age 59½, an additional 10% federal tax may apply. An investment in a variable annuity is subject to risk, including possible loss of principal. The contract, when surrendered, may be worth more or less than the investment amount. Retirement accounts, such as IRAs, can be tax-deferred regardless of whether or not they are funded with an annuity. The purchase of an annuity within a retirement account does not provide additional tax-deferred treatment of earnings. However, annuities do provide other features and benefits. Guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.