How America Retires
From complexity to clarity
Let the retirement journey begin!
This year, roughly 4.2 million people will turn age 65.* These individuals, collectively the so-called silver tsunami, are preparing to leave working life behind and enter a fulfilling and rewarding retirement.
That’s exactly why we’ve created How America Retires, Vanguard’s new report that spotlights behavioral trends, insights, and plan design best practices to help today’s retirees make the life-changing transition from saving their money to spending it.
Behind the nest egg: Retiree decisions
How America Retires presents a vast array of data around trends in plan design and retiree behaviors. Among the findings from 2024:
35
%
Retirees are 35% more likely to stay in a plan that offers flexible distribution options.
30
%
30% of retirees have either an aggressive or a conservative equity position.
70
%
Roughly 70% of retirees remaining in their plan after three years didn’t take a withdrawal.
Vanguard's retirement income solutions
With a full spectrum of solutions, plan sponsors can turn insights into action, strengthening their plan to meet the diverse retirement income needs of their workforce. Our comprehensive approach helps participants move smoothly and confidently from saving to spending for the best chance of retirement success.
*Lisa Camner McKay. Saving for Retirement in America. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, April 14, 2025.
Source: Vanguard 2025.
All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.
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