Retirement Trends

Participants who engage with financial guidance resources contribute 29% more on average and hold roughly twice the account balance of non-users.

U.S. workers, on average, increased their 401(k) balances by 13% in 2025, reaching an average of more than $113,000.

For retirement investors, the quiet start to 2026 suggests a mature, strategic approach to building their nest eggs.

Americans in this cohort are often in their peak earning years and are likely to seek professional financial advice.

Most advisors recommended spending strategy shifts, Nationwide finds.

Medical inflation is projected at nearly 6% annually, outpacing income growth and pushing lifetime health care costs toward $1 million for many couples.