Retirement Trends

The primary concern is the possible disruption of ongoing treatment for chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and mobility-related conditions.

The program's funding outlook remains bleak, but conditions at the Social Security Administration appear to have stabilized.

The change could have "catastrophic consequences for beneficiaries," a Social Security advocate says.

The measure would phase out the payroll tax cap and change how COLAs are calculated.

As benefits professionals seek to optimize participant engagement and retirement readiness in 2026, they should consider how participants reacted to market trends in 2025.

Whether it’s through plan design, education or simple encouragement, HR teams play a vital role in helping employees stay on track. And based on what we’ve seen, they’re listening.