Survey: Nearly 8 in 10 workers expect to retire past age 65

By Warren S. Hersch

August 28, 2014 at 09:09 AM

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Working adults ages 60-plus are more pessimistic than younger colleagues that they will be able to retire by age 65, according to new research.

So reports Northwestern Mutual in its annual "2014 Planning and Progress Study: Talking Money & Retirement." Based on a survey of 2,092 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, the survey aims to ascertain, among other objectives, Americans' attitudes toward money and financial decision-making, perspectives on working with a financial advisor and the client experience, and people's preparedness for retirement.

The report reveals that nearly two in five (38 percent) of working adults estimate they will have to work until age 75 or older before they can retire. Those who are now working believe they will retire at a "much later age" than do individuals already retired (68 years old for those now working versus age 59, the average age of current retirees when they stopped working).

The following tables list age ranges of retirement (estimated or actual) among survey respondents:

Will Work until Retirement (until I am… years old)

Less than 50 years old	2%
50-64 years sold	19%
65-74 years old	57%
75-plus years old	20%
I have already retired	22%
I don't work	19%
Mean estimated age of retirement	68.4

Age when retired among those already retired

Less than 55 years old	21%
55-59 years sold	25%
60-64 years old	32%
65-69 years old	15%
Age 70 or older	15%
Mean age of retirement	59

The report adds that about two in five U.S. adults have spoken to their spouse/partner (39 percent) or have not spoken to anyone (42 percent) about retirement. Between 2 and 3 in 10 survey respondents have spoken with a: