NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Retirees report a desire to have started retirement earlier – based on a survey of 62-70 year old retirees revealing that 46 percent wished they had started their retirement sooner. The survey found that the average “sweet spot” of earlier retirement was four years sooner than respondents had actually retired.
The survey asked retirees age 62-70 with $100,000 of investable assets to report on their wish to retire earlier if they could ensure the same level of financial security they had when they actually retired. The survey was sponsored by New York Life, the largest seller of income annuities in 2014, with a 22 percent market share in fixed immediate annuities and 42 percent market share in the deferred income annuity category, according to an industry source.*
“Much of the dialogue around retirement has been focused on people enjoying longer lives and ensuring they don’t run out of money. What the survey shows is that retirees, if given the opportunity, would want four or five years at the front end of their retirement, when they are healthiest, most active and able to get the most out of their retirement savings,” said David Cruz, senior managing director, New York Life.
In addition, the survey revealed:
- 51 percent of retirees who were 60 or older when they retired reported they would have preferred an earlier retirement;
- Both men and women reported similar feelings about retiring earlier; 47 percent of men would have retired sooner, and 46 percent of women would do the same;
- Similarly, men and women wish for nearly the same amount of time for their earlier retirement - men wanting to have retired 4.53 years sooner, and women reporting 3.96; and
- Three quarters (74%) of those who would have retired earlier if they could have the same level of financial security report that they would be interested in hearing more about financial products that could have helped make this possible.
“During this week designated National Retirement Planning Week, we hope the perspective retirees offer helps future generations plan toward a retirement as early as they wish,” added Mr. Cruz.
Methodology
This survey was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs in 2014. A national sample of 750 retired adults aged 62 – 70 with at least $100,000 in investable assets from Ipsos’ U.S. online panel was interviewed online, with an estimated margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points.
New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States** and one of the largest life insurers in the world. New York Life has the highest possible financial strength ratings currently awarded to any life insurer from all four of the major credit rating agencies: A.M. Best (A++), Fitch (AAA), Moody’s Investors Service (Aaa), Standard & Poor’s (AA+).*** Headquartered in New York City, New York Life’s family of companies offers life insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance. New York Life Investments**** provides institutional asset management. Other New York Life affiliates provide an array of securities products and services, as well as retail mutual funds. Please visit New York Life’s website at www.newyorklife.com for more information.
*Source: LIMRA, U.S. Individual Annuity Sales Survey, Participants Report, Fixed Immediates and Deferred Income Annuities, Fourth Quarter 2014 results. (Fixed Immediates include Fixed Period Annuities.) Annuities are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company.
**Based on revenue as reported by “Fortune 500 ranked within Industries, Insurance: Life, Health (Mutual),” Fortune magazine, 6/16/14. For methodology, please see http://fortune.com/fortune500/.
***Individual independent rating agency commentary as of 3/26/15.
****New York Life Investments is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary, New York Life Investment Management LLC.
