401(k) Survey Indicates That Younger Workers Save More

Younger Workers Are More Likely to Save the Maximum for Retirement

A survey indicates that many 50-and-older employees don' t make use of catch-up contributions

Alamy Stock Photo Workers ages 35 to 49 have many years to go before they reach the traditional retirement age. Even so, they are more likely than their 50-and-older colleagues to , a new survey shows. It found that among workers under 50, 65 percent contribute the maximum to their workplace savings plans, compared with 47 percent of those 50 and older. The survey of 1,014 workers ages 35 to 64 who earn at least $40,000 a year and made at least one investment transaction in the past year was released by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine and Personal Capital, a wealth management firm.
“For people under 50, the media has drummed into their heads that Americans aren’t saving enough, and these people are stepping up,” Kiplinger's editor Mark Solheim said. He added that older workers may not be maxing out their company savings plans because they can’t afford the full catch-up contributions for which they’re eligible, which amount to an additional $6,000 for 2019. For ways to save and more, get AARP’s The survey found that 39 percent of younger workers would consider purchasing an immediate annuity, compared with 20 percent of older workers. And 31 percent of those under 50 would consider eventually using a reverse mortgage for retirement income, compared with just 10 percent of older people. Eighty-five percent of younger workers expect to stay on the job full time for as long as possible, compared with 67 percent of older ones. The survey also found that 70 percent of younger workers have consulted a , compared with 58 percent of older workers. Nearly two-thirds of all workers surveyed were confident about their financial prospects in retirement, but more young people are “very confident” (35.8 percent) than are older people (22.4 percent).

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