An Open Conversation About the State of Retirement in America

Every day, 11,000 people turn 65 in the U.S., bringing to the forefront questions about what they’ll need to retire comfortably. In this episode of The Financial States of America podcast, Christian Mitchell and Bryan Falchuk tackle questions surrounding one of the biggest mountains people need to climb in their financial lives: retirement. Northwestern Mutual’s 2024 Planning & Progress Study found that U.S. adults believe they will need $1.46 million to retire comfortably – a 15% increase from the previous year. But that may not be the whole story. Joining the conversation is Teresa Ghilarducci, a labor economist from the New School of Social Research and author of several books, including “How to Retire with Enough Money and How to Know What Enough is.” She says there's always been a difference between when people think they’ll retire and when their retirement comes, and shares useful tips for people of all ages looking to save for their retirement goals. So how can you be ready for your financial future? Hear from Northwestern Mutual financial advisors Nikki Macdonald, Matt Carothers and Brad Ledbetter, who have these conversations daily with clients. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to retirement planning, but there are strategies that anyone can put into practice to work toward financial security. It’s never too late or too early to start building better financial habits that allow you to prepare for the future while enjoying life along the way.