Almost 50% of U.S. Employees Believe They Will Require $1 Million or More for Retirement, According to Betterment

Retirement Expectations vs. Savings Reality: Nearly half (48%) of U.S. workers believe they will need over $1 million to retire comfortably, a significant increase from 37% in 2024, while only 27% feel they can realistically achieve that goal.

Generational and Gender Disparities: Confidence in retirement savings varies by generation, with Gen Z being the most optimistic (88%) but also the most anxious about daily finances (73%), while Gen X shows the least confidence (61%). Women exhibit lower confidence in retirement knowledge and savings compared to men.

Financial Anxiety on the Rise: Financial anxiety among workers has surged to 90% in 2025, with inflation, credit card debt, and housing costs identified as primary stressors, despite 71% of workers still feeling somewhat confident about retiring comfortably.

Impact of Student Loan Debt: Over half (54%) of employees report that student debt significantly contributes to their financial anxiety, and 85% of borrowers would prefer jobs offering student loan repayment support, indicating a need for employers to address this issue.