Retirement confidence among American workers is slipping. Only 61% feel they will have enough for a comfortable retirement, down six points from last year, according to the 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey from EBRI and Greenwald Research.
Fidelity’s 2026 State of Retirement Planning study paints a starker picture of the planning gap. Among those with a formal retirement plan, 83% feel confident. Among those without one, only 38% do. The difference is more than double.
Eighty-one percent of retirees who had a plan say their savings will last their lifetime. For those without a plan, the number plummets to 45%.
Most workers misjudge their income sources in retirement. While 83% expect to draw from a workplace retirement plan, only 45% of retirees actually do. Similarly, 75% of workers expect to work for pay in retirement, but only 27% of retirees are earning income.
Social Security remains the one constant, with 89% of workers and 92% of retirees relying on it.
Phased retirement is a growing trend, with six in 10 Americans planning a gradual transition. But nearly half of retirees left the workforce earlier than planned, often due to health issues or corporate changes. Healthcare costs remain a blind spot, with Fidelity estimating $172,500 for a single person, yet only 25% fund a Health Savings Account.
Confidence comes from clarity. A plan that accounts for income streams, tax exposure, and healthcare sequencing is the single strongest predictor of retirement security.