Retirement
2025 Retirement Study: By Default or by Design?
While plan participants have benefited from default features, our new study shows the retirement landscape is ready for a change. Fortunately, we see solutions.
Retirement realities
2025 survey insights
15%
fewer retirees feel secure about retirement compared with our 2023 study.
1 in 5
retirees and near-retirees withdraw from taxable accounts first to reduce, defer, or avoid taxes.
60%
of near-retirees underestimate the value of delayed Social Security withdrawals.
7%
is the expected annual withdrawal rate reported by retirees; 6% is the expected annual withdrawal rate for near-retirees.
Retirement by design
No two retirees or near-retirees are alike, but this year’s survey reveals some commonalities. We explore four in this report and outline solutions:
1. Our differences make the difference—diverse needs call for better investment options.
2. It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep—near-retirees need to plan for taxes.
3. Social Security is still the top income source—but near-retirees failed on the basics.
4. Artificial intelligence may help serve plan participants and investors—with discretion.
2025 Survey: By Default or by Design?
The retirement landscape is ready for a change
Our latest survey uncovers a critical insight: Simplifying retirement plans often overlooks how individuals differ. We believe a better response is to understand the diverse needs among workers, near-retirees, and retirees and to design solutions to help meet retirement goals.
Allspring Global Investments does not provide accounting, legal, or tax advice or investment recommendations.