Retirement is becoming less of a single moment when Americans stop working and more of a gradual transition, according to the fourth annual Retirement Reconsidered survey from F&G Annuities & Life.
Nearly one-third of surveyed Americans (31%) over the age of 50 consider themselves semi-retired or plan to be.
More than half of respondents who are not yet retired (51%) say they plan to semi-retire, while 75% of pre-retirees have considered or are delaying their retirement date, up from 70% in 2025.
More than half of Americans ages 50 and older (53%) agree that the journey to retirement is becoming more flexible. Sixty percent of pre-retirees see retirement as a “gradual transition over time,” while only 21% associate retirement with stopping work completely.
Nearly two thirds of pre-retirees (65%) view retirement as an opportunity to reinvent themselves, according to the survey.
“Americans, no matter their savings or income bracket, aren’t simply reconsidering when they retire; they’re reconsidering what retirement itself looks like,” said Conor Murphy, CEO and president of F&G. “For some, that means choosing to work less, transitioning gradually into retirement or even reinventing themselves in a new chapter, while for others, original plans are giving way to financial realities.
“As retirement becomes more flexible and individualized, it’s important to provide retirees and pre-retirees with accessible planning solutions to evolve with changing needs and allow for greater certainty and confidence along the way.”
Financial pressures reshape plans
More than half of pre-retirees surveyed (51%) say they expect to retire later than originally planned, up from 45% in 2025. For those considering or delaying retirement, 52% worry they won’t have enough money, up from 48% last year.
Social Security availability (46%) tops the list of factors influencing retirement planning among Americans ages 50 and older, followed by healthcare and long-term care expenses (43%) and Medicare availability (31%).
More than half of respondents (57%) say the events of 2026 have impacted their retirement planning, up from 49% in 2025.
Among pre-retirees, that rose to 70%, up from 61% last year. Among Gen X, 68% say the events of 2026 have affected their retirement decision-making, up 11 percentage points from last year. And about half of baby boomers (51%) say the same.
Preference for predictability
Three-quarters of respondents (75%) would rather have greater financial certainty and predictable income, even if it limits investment growth potential.
Two-thirds (67%) say they feel the need to invest or increase investment in products that deliver guaranteed income in the future, rising to 73% among Gen X.
Only 11% of Gen X give themselves an “A” for financial readiness as they prepare for retirement, compared with 20% of all Americans ages 50 and older.
“The roadmap to retirement is no longer a straight line, which makes personalized financial planning increasingly important,” said Ron Barrett, chief distribution officer at F&G. “A financial professional can help individuals think through how their assets will support the different stages of retirement and secure a financial legacy through a customized plan that provides predictability along the way.
“Guaranteed income products, such as annuities, and protection products, such as indexed universal life insurance, can be important parts of that conversation by helping provide reliable income and greater financial confidence throughout retirement, no matter what path that journey takes.”
This article was generated using HousingWire Automation and reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication.
