15th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey

Reports from the 15th annual survey of workers and employers include:"Baby Boomer Workers Are Revolutionizing Retirement - Are They and Their Employers Ready?" "The Retirement Readiness Challenge: Five Ways Employers Can Improve Their 401(k)s," "A Compendium of Findings About American Workers," "Three Unique Generations with Very Different Retirements Ahead of Them: Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials," "Millennial Workers: An Emerging Generation of Super Savers," which explores the youngest group of workers and spotlights their strides toward retirement readiness; and "Generation X Workers: Retirement Reality Bites Unless Answers Are Implemented," which delves into the retirement readiness of the "401(k) Generation" and offers suggestions to help them reach their retirement goals.

The study is one of the largest and longest-running of its kind, and is a robust, nationally representative survey conducted by an independent research company. The large sample enables TCRS to delve into comparisons of workers across many demographics and comparisons of employers by company size.

15th Annual Employer Study Cover Image - for 15th annual page

A Compendium of Findings About American Employers

Comprehensive report offers five-year trend data on employers' perspectives about their businesses, their retirement benefit offerings, and their employees' retirement preparations

Downloadable Materials:

A Compendium of Findings About American Employers -- Full Survey Results 


Fifteen Facts About Women's Retirement Outlook - Select Findings from the 15th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey of Workers

Downloadable Materials:

Fifteen Facts Report 
Fact Sheet - Fifteen Facts About Women's Retirement Outlook... and Seven Steps to Improve It
Press Release - March 3, 2015
Global Awareness Sheet - "I Always Save for Retirement"
Global Awareness Sheet - "Future Generations of Retirees Will Be Worse Off"

Baby Boomer Workers Are Revolutionizing Retirement: Are They and Their Employers Ready?

TCRS' latest research examines the retirement vision among Baby Boomer workers (born between 1946 and 1964) and the level of involvement among employers to facilitate their transitioning into retirement. As part of its 15thAnnual Transamerica Retirement Survey, this study also offers seven suggestions for employers to help them prepare their employees to be retirement ready.

Downloadable Materials and Images:

Baby Boomer Report
Baby Boomer White Paper
Press Release - December 18, 2014
Baby Boomers Infographic
Baby Boomers Phasing Into Retirement - Shareable Image
Baby Boomers 14% Have a Written Retirement Strategy - Shareable Image
Baby Boomers Taking One Proactive Step - Shareable Image
Baby Boomers 13% May Never Recover - Shareable Image
Baby Boomers Keeping Job Skills Up-to-Date - Shareable Image
Baby Boomers Standard of Living in Retirement - Shareable Image


The Retirement Readiness Challenge: Five Ways Employers Can Improve Their 401(k)s

TCRS research identifies five ways employers can improve their 401(k)s and explores employers’ views on the economy, their companies, and retirement benefits. It also compares and contrasts employers’ views with workers’ perspectives.

The survey finds that retirement plan sponsorship is on the rise and that employers consider the offering of retirement benefits to be important tool in helping them attract and retain employees. It also offers suggestions for improvements with the goal of helping all Americans prepare for a financially secure retirement.

Downloadable Materials and Images:

Retirement Readiness Report  
Press Release -- October 20, 2014
Five Ways Employers Can Improve Their 401(k)s White Paper
Five Ways Employers Can Improve Their 401(k)s Trifold
Five Ways Employers Can Improve Their 401(k)s Infographic
Adopt Automatic Features Shareable Image
Consider Professionally Managed Services/Asset Allocation Suites Shareable Image
Add the Roth 401(k) Feature Shareable Image
Extend Eligibility to Part-Time Workers Shareable Image
Address Communication Gaps Between Employers and Employees Shareable Image


A Compendium of Findings About American Workers

The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by company size, generation, gender, household income, educational attainment, and ethnicity/race.

Downloadable Materials:

A Compendium of Findings About American Workers - Full Survey Results
Influences of Company Size on Retirement Preparations - Excerpt
Influences of Generation on Retirement Preparations - Excerpt
Influences of Gender on Retirement Preparations - Excerpt
Influences of Household Income on Retirement Preparations - Excerpt
Influences of Educational Attainment on Retirement Preparations - Excerpt
Influences of Ethnicity and Race on Retirement Preparations - Excerpt


Generation X Workers: Retirement Reality Bites Unless Answers Are Implemented

TCRS is continuing to spotlight research on the retirement readiness of different generations and finds that Generation X workers (born 1965-1978) are facing formidable uncertainties about their future retirement. Gen Xers – who joined the workforce as 401(k)s were being introduced – could be considered the “401(k) Generation,” and indeed many of them are saving for retirement through such plans. However, the study also reveals that current levels of savings may not be enough, and offers recommendations to help improve the retirement readiness outlook for Generation X.

Downloadable Materials:

Generation X Workers Report
Generation X Workers: 15 Alarming Facts About Retirement Readiness and 7 Steps for Improving It Fact Sheet
Press Release -- August 28, 2014


Millennial Workers: An Emerging Generation of Super Savers

The survey reveals that the retirement savings habits of American Millennial workers (born 1979-1996) are strong, and that they appear to be an emerging generation of retirement super savers. Millennial workers are already focused on retirement – a large majority is saving for retirement, and started doing so a young age. Similarly, a large majority of those offered a 401(k) or similar plan participates in the plan. At the same time, opportunities abound for them to learn more about retirement and further strengthen their savings. These materials explore the survey findings and offer recommendations for them, their employers and policymakers. 

Downloadable Materials:

Millennial Workers Report
15 Facts About Millennials' Retirement Readiness... and 7 Steps for Long-Term Success Fact Sheet
Press Release -- July 15, 2014


Three Unique Generations with Very Different Retirements Ahead of Them:  Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials

Experts have long written about the changing retirement landscape over the past century.  Times are changing so rapidly that the retirements of Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials will not only be a radical departure from their parents' generations, but from each other as well.  This new research examines current trends among American workers and compares the retirement outlook across these generations.

Downloadable Materials:

Three Generations Report 
White Paper
Press Release - April 30, 2014


Downloadable Infographics and Shareable Images:

Three Generations of Retirement Infographic
Three Generations - After the Storm
Workers Want Financial Advice on Retirement
Retirement Confidence Rebounding
Workers May Need $2 Million for Retirement
Retirement Differs Among Generations
Delaying Retirement

Generation X Infographic
Generation X Working in Retirement
Generation X The Future Is Now
Generation X Guessing Retirement Goal

Millennials Infographic
Millennials Find Tech-Based Tools Helpful
Millennials are Saving for Retirement
Few Millennials Use Retirement Calculator