• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Exclusive

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

Personal FinanceRetirement

No pension, no problem: Goldman Sachs report shows how younger generations are becoming more retirement-ready than boomers

Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 30, 2024, 9:30 AM ET
Grandmother spending time with her granddaughter
Younger generations are becoming more confident about their retirement readiness.Getty Images

Millennials and Gen Zers are famously on their own when it comes to retirement savings, with virtually no access to pensions, and muted expectations of being able to rely on Social Security. Ironically, that pessimism actually may be helping them.

Recommended Video

That’s according to a new report from Goldman Sachs Asset Management, which surveyed over 5,200 working and retired individuals across generations. The report, which examined various obstacles in saving for retirement among baby boomers, Generation X, millennials, and Generation Z, found that younger generations were far more confident in their ability to reach their goals.

Around 45% of Gen Xers said they’re behind schedule when it comes to saving for retirement. With the introduction of 401(k)s, that generation (and the youngest boomers) became the first to begin saving primarily on their own, which led to a dearth of savings; Goldman calls them the “401(k) experiment” generation. The report notes that some Gen Xers—the oldest will turn 60 next year—are retiring earlier than expected, not because they have the funds but because of their health or family caregiving needs.

Baby boomers, too, aren’t as confident about having saved enough for retirement as might be expected given the headlines about their unprecedented wealth. Currently aged 60 to 78, they also report retiring later than the generations before them, a trend previous research backs up. Some simply need to work longer for a paycheck, while others, buoyed by good health and longer life expectancy, want to stay in the workforce as long as possible.

“The 401(k) transition looms large for Gen X and working baby boomers, and many working Americans have taken a long time to adapt to the new retirement system—some too long,” Goldman’s report notes. “Many may lack coherent strategies for how much to save, how to invest, and when they can afford to retire.”

A different report recently noted how over 50% of so-called peak boomers—those reaching traditional retirement age—have accumulated $250,000 or less, meaning it’s likely they’ll burn through whatever assets they’ve accumulated and be dependent on Social Security. Women in that generation are faring worse than men, holding about 30% less in savings, and Hispanic and Black boomers hold far less wealth than white retirees.

‘Be mindful’

Younger generations, meanwhile, are under no illusion they can simply rely on outside contributions to bolster their retirements. So they’ve started saving on their own, and at a younger age than the generations before them: Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, has median retirement savings of $29,000, and 68% believe they’re on track, a far higher share than Gen X or boomers, according to Goldman.

That’s promising news. The report details what a substantial difference the first decade of savings can make in the total size of someone’s nest egg. Assuming a $50,000 starting salary with 2% wage increases each year, 5% contributions from both the employee and employer, and a 6% annual return, saving during the first 10 years of one’s career can lead to 67% higher savings compared with someone who waited longer to invest, per Goldman’s calculations.

Still, some perspective might be needed. The report found once again that a large share of Gen Z wants to retire early: 44% said they want to leave the workforce before age 60, and 14% said they plan to retire between 65 and 69. But that’s a goal that could prove difficult in today’s economy—particularly given increases in life expectancy that could extend retirement periods by a decade or more.

“Gen Zers should be mindful that if they underprepare early in their career, it may be too difficult to catch up,” the report reads.

‘Financial vortex’

The oldest millennials, now approaching middle age, are facing a confluence of factors Goldman dubs the “financial vortex”: Combinations of student loan payments, credit card debt, childcare costs, home buying, and caring for elderly parents or family members are cutting into potential retirement savings. (Notably, Gen Z isn’t far behind.)

Still, millennials remain the most confident generation in their ability to retire: 69% said they’re on track or ahead of schedule with their savings, and 43% are very confident they’ll meet their goal, compared with 25% of Gen X and 22% of working boomers.

That’s impressive for a generation that has dealt with financial setback after financial setback, as well as increased costs for necessities like housing and childcare. Recent research from the Federal Reserve has found that millennials—at least the wealthiest ones—are making significant gains in wealth accumulation.

In a few respects, it has been easier for some of them: They’ve learned from older generations, but they’ve also had more and better options to save for retirement, such as automatic enrollment, Chris Ceder, a senior retirement strategist with Goldman Sachs Asset Management, told Fortune.

“These generations are being more proactive planning for their retirement and taking advantages of the resources available to them,” Ceder added.

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
Alicia Adamczyk
By Alicia AdamczykSenior Writer
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Alicia Adamczyk is a former New York City-based senior writer at Fortune, covering personal finance, investing, and retirement.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Personal Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Personal Finance

Tom Brady wearing commencement regalia behind a podium at Georgetown University
SuccessCareers
Tom Brady tells Gen Z to treat their careers like the Super Bowl: ‘You may only get one chance to impress your boss or land a promotion’
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
22 minutes ago
Top CD rates from major banks May 19, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates from major banks on May 19, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
By Joseph HostetlerMay 19, 2026
23 minutes ago
Current price of Bitcoin for May 19, 2026
Personal FinanceCryptocurrency
Current price of Bitcoin for May 19, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 19, 2026
1 hour ago
Current price of Ethereum for May 19, 2026
Personal FinanceEthereum
Current price of Ethereum for May 19, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 19, 2026
1 hour ago
Current price of oil as of May 19, 2026
Personal FinanceOil
Current price of oil as of May 19, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 19, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Personal Financesilver
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, May 19, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 19, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

While Trump insisted the Iran war would end ‘soon,’ an account in his name was buying millions in oil, defense and gold
Economy
While Trump insisted the Iran war would end ‘soon,’ an account in his name was buying millions in oil, defense and gold
By Eva RoytburgMay 18, 2026
20 hours ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
7 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 18, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 18, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 18, 2026
1 day ago
Spirit Airlines apologizes to all the Americans who can't afford any summer vacation flights as it shuts down
Travel & Leisure
Spirit Airlines apologizes to all the Americans who can't afford any summer vacation flights as it shuts down
By Rio Yamat and The Associated PressMay 18, 2026
1 day ago
EXCLUSIVE: An hour in the Oval Office with the CEO-in-Chief, President Trump
Politics
EXCLUSIVE: An hour in the Oval Office with the CEO-in-Chief, President Trump
By Alyson ShontellMay 18, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, May 18, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, May 18, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 18, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.