Retirement No Longer a Fixed Step for Older Americans, Study Shows

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on LiveCareer.

Retirement is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve as economic pressures change expectations in later life.

The Retirement Reality Check Report from LiveCareer, based on a survey of 878 US workers age 50 and older, highlights how rising costs and financial volatility are changing the way people prepare for life after full-time work and face the challenges of retirement planning over age 50.

Many older workers are now adjusting plans, delaying retirement, and rethinking what financial security will look like in practice.

Despite the positive performance of investments in recent months, a full 75% of respondents said they are delaying retirement due to stock market volatility. The major impact of inflation on retirement planning is evident, as 91% report that inflation or price increases have impacted their retirement plans.

Key Findings

• Rising care costs are a major financial concern among older workers. 55% cite health care costs in retirement or long-term care costs as their top concern.
• Many fear that their savings will not last long. 49% say they are worried about the health of their retirement savings.
• Confidence is eroding despite the economic downturn. 91% say inflation and inflation have affected their retirement outlook.
• Volatile markets cause action. 41% have made changes to their investment plans due to stock market uncertainty.
• Retirement funds act as a safety net. 6 in 10 workers over 50 withdraw from retirement accounts to pay for everyday expenses.

Retirement is Rewritten by Uncertainty

Most older workers do not enter retirement with confidence:

• 55% say their biggest concern is the cost of health care or long-term care.
• 49% fear they will outlive their savings.
• 30% cite stock market volatility as a major concern.
• 21% are worried about inflation reducing their purchasing power.

Only 2% of respondents said they are not at all worried about their financial future.

What this means: Concerns indicate that older workers are trying to plan for retirement in an environment where costs and risks fluctuate. This adjusts expectations for what a “secure” retirement means today.

Many Are Rethinking Their Retirement Plans

Given the uncertainty of the market, many are rethinking their approach to retirement planning in their 50s. When asked how inflation and taxes have affected their confidence in retirement:

• 45% said they are rethinking their entire plan.
• Another 46% made minor changes.

Only 9% said those issues had little or no impact on their retirement outlook.

What this means: Retirement becomes an active, ongoing calculation, where plans must adapt to changing economic conditions rather than follow a fixed timeline.

Delayed Retirement, Adjusted Expectations

Along with delaying retirement, many older workers are also making important lifestyle and investment changes:

• 41% have made changes to their investment plans due to market volatility.
• Only 8% said they are still in the course and there are no changes.

What this means: Retirement becomes a gradual adjustment rather than a planned milestone, shaped by changing financial realities rather than a single decision point.

Many Are Already Tapping Their Retirement Money

Even if they delay retirement, many older workers are already drawing on retirement savings, often out of necessity:

• 61% regularly withdraw from their retirement accounts.
• 30% is dipped into savings from time to time, at certain costs.
• 8 percent hold back and save their money for later use.

What this means: These numbers underscore the continuing financial hardships many over-50 workers face, as they try to maintain long-term security.

How to do it

This report is based on a survey conducted by LiveCareer in November 2025 with 878 US workers aged 50 and older.

Respondents answered a mix of single-choice and multiple-choice questions about their retirement planning, financial concerns, investment behavior, and perceptions of modern retirement realities.