Global Workers Confident but Unprepared for Retirement
A broader study analyzing the retirement readiness among global populations finds that mass affluent people throughout the world feel confident in preparing for retirement.
Prudential Financial’s 2025 Global Retirement Pulse Survey fielded responses from 4,200 mass affluent adults—defined as those with over $100,000 in investable assets—in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, and Japan. It found that 87% of mass affluent adults in those markets, including 90% in Brazil, 89% in the U.S., 88% in Mexico, and 82% in Japan, believe they can afford essential costs in retirement.
Despite their attitudes, only 41% have a financial advisor (61% in the U.S., 46% in Mexico, 35% in Brazil, and 21% in Japan), 32% have a written financial plan, about half or less have considered how inflation, healthcare, and medical expenses will impact retirement, and 25% have thought of a clear withdrawal strategy.
Further, less than three in five respondents say they’ve talked about retirement planning with their partners and have agreed on their decisions.
“This year’s Pulse Survey makes clear that even across different economic and cultural contexts globally, one trend emerges: while many people feel ready, far fewer have taken action to ensure they’re ready,” said Caroline Feeney, global head of Retirement and Insurance at Prudential.
Prudential’s survey observed a notable dissonance in retirement planning for employees in Japan. Sixteen percent of respondents reported having a written retirement plan and 69% of non-retired respondents said they could not “clearly picture the life they want in retirement and how to get there.”
Gen Xers in Japan—like in the U.S.—also struggle with retirement preparedness. Seventy-nine percent cannot envision their lives in retirement and only 12% have written a financial plan.
The lack of planning for some could be due to the belief that most will work throughout their lives, including in retirement. Many mass affluent workers (83%) said they would consider working in retirement, with 95% in Mexico, 88% in Brazil, 79% in the U.S., and 70% in Japan all envisioning working during retirement.
Of those open to working, 50% would consider going freelance, 33% noted an interest in teaching or mentoring, and 27% would consider managing property, found Prudential.
Amanda Umpierrez is the Managing Editor of 401(k) Specialist magazine. She is a financial services reporter with nearly a decade of experience and a passion for telling stories and reporting news. She is originally from Queens, New York, but now resides in Denver, Colorado.
