A new report by MassMutual raises questions about the current effectiveness of retirement savings initiatives and programs in the United States, as the overwhelming majority of respondents, roughly 72 percent, agreed that they are not saving enough for retirement. This is alarming, but not all that surprising. Many Americans struggle to meet their current expenses and needs, let alone save for the future. Perhaps more troubling, was the finding that women were three times more likely than men to report that they could not afford to save for retirement. This feeling of unpreparedness for retirement also appears to be impacting women in other areas outside of retirement savings. In fact, women were more likely than men to report that their financial concerns were causing them added stress, limiting their social activities, affecting the quality of their family’s medical care, and negatively impacting their relationships.
Women were more worried about the financial health of their families than men, more worried about the current political atmosphere than men, and felt less prepared for retirement than their male counterparts. This adds up to increased stress. The report also asked men and women about the types of employer-sponsored programs that would interest them and would help them feel more financially secure. While both men and women reported that they were interested in more financial planning services from their employer, women were more likely than men to want those services. Click to read more.
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