主要挑战分析

Reality Bites Retirement anxieties grow as Generation X turns 60 Generation X is the stubborn middle childof demographics. Perpetually stuckbetween older, more popular Baby Boomersand younger, more precocious Millennials,Generation X has been overlooked formost of the 21st century. But while the world focused on their siblings, Gen Xers(born between 1965 and 1980) rose from their slackerbeginnings and the low-paying McJobs that marked theirearly years, and now 51% of business leadership rolesglobally are held by members of Generation X.1 These latchkey kids, who learned self-reliance fending forthemselves in the hours between school and dinner aschildren, came of age as investors with the E-Trade babyand the democratization of online investing. From thatstart, their resilience has been continually tested as theyweathered the dot.com bubble, the global financial crisisand Covid. But as the oldest Gen Xers are set to turn 60in 2025, retirement is rapidly approaching, and theirresiliency is being tested in a new way. At a time when they are entering the “pre-retiree” phase of planning and may be looking to accelerate savings, manyGen Xers find themselves sandwiched between the financial pressures of supporting their kids and caring forelderlyparents. Firmly planted in middle age, they are under pressure to fund retirement. Almost half of Gen Xerssurveyed (48%) say it’s going to take a miracle to retire securely. Those long-range concerns are compounded bytoday’s inflation, which 41% of Generation X say is killing their dreams of retirement. Results from the Natixis Global Survey of Individual Investors reveal that Generation X is striving to address retirementfunding while they still have enoughtimeto recalibrate plans and grow the assets they’ll need to besuccessful. When it comes down to it, though, they will need to face up to three key challenges: Growing concerns about retirement:With 82% recognizing that the responsibility forfunding retirement is increasingly on their shoulders,Gen Xers are worried about coming up short. Asa result, 60% accept that they may have to worklonger. However, many of them realize work offersno guarantees, and 47% are worried they won’t beable to work long enough. Professional financial planning: Inconsistent investment expectations: Generation X investors are optimistic: 30% say theyare confident about the current state of their finances,and another 24% say they are prepared. But thatoptimism may need to be countered with realism.Especially as Gen Xers have long-term return expec-tations of 13.1% above inflation on average. Thosehopes for big returns may be dashed by misplacedviews on risk, misconceptions about passive invest-ments, and a critical knowledge gap on bonds. Faced with this complex picture, 56% say theyneed professional advice. Financial planning (48%)and retirement income planning (44%) top the listof services they want from an advisor. But the realquestion may be where they go to get that advice,as globally, Generation X looks to be warming todigital advice. While it may be six months until the first Gen Xers turn 60, some in the US may have heightened anxieties as soon as July 1, 2024, when the first wave of the genera-tion will turn 59½, a milestone that allows them to take penalty-free distributions from qualified retirement plan savings. Few are likely to line up for withdrawals,but the milestone is a reminder of just how close the reality of retirement is and how high the stakes are. enjoy their retirement. The question of how much willbe enough lingers for some, as one in five (19%) thinkthat even if they saved $1 million, they still couldn’tafford to retire. Many are worried about the consequencesof coming up short, and 28% worry that they’ll beforced to return to work after retirement. If they can. workers, it’s easier said than done. In fact, four outof ten Gen Xers are worried that they won’t be ableto work as long as they like. That is the key challengefacing many workers in their 50s and 60s. Retirement: the unknowns,the uncertainties,and the unprepared A late-career layoff can disrupt retirement savingsplans – just as paying off a mortgage or the end ofcollege bills could free up the cash needed to top offretirement savings. As can stepping out of the work-force to care for an elderly parent or sick child. Or apersonal illness or disability that prevents an individualfrom performing their job. Crossing the threshold into your 60s has a way of changingyour perspective on retirement. After seeing it as some-thing conceptual, coming decades in the future, thecountdown to retirement can now be measured in singledigits. On the surface, Generation X seems ready to facethat reality, as six in ten (61%) believe they will be securein retirement. But that sense of security is fleeting at best. It’s surprising to realize just how often this happens. A2018 study by the Urban Institute tracked workers whoheld full-time positions with their curr