Consumers are retiring earlier than planned

Consumers have unrealistic expectations about when they will retire, how much money they will need in retirement and where that income will come from, according to “The Future of Retirement Income,” a survey released today by Genworth.

“Unpredictable retirement dates, compounded by misperceptions about retirement expenses and the uncertain futures of traditional sources of retirement income may leave many retirees at risk for outliving their retirement savings if they don’t prepare properly,” said Eric Taylor, vice president and National Sales Manager for Annuities at Genworth. “The findings underscore the need for flexible financial solutions that provide reliable retirement income, such as fixed annuities.”

Retirement timing is often beyond our control

The Genworth study reveals that while nearly three-fourths (73 percent) of pre-retirees are confident they will retire as planned, only 48 percent of actual retirees retired when they expected. Among the more than 1,300 people surveyed, including more than 700 retirees, 46 percent retired sooner than planned.