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Three in four retirees wish they had saved more and saved earlier, TIAA Institute finds

7/22/2026

A TIAA Institute study released July 22 puts a precise count on American retirement regret: three in four current retirees said they wished they had started saving earlier and saved more.

The research surfaces a gap between what retirees expected from retirement and the reality they actually found.

Unplanned life events, specifically job loss, career shifts, caregiving obligations, and inadequate planning, rank as the primary drivers of the deepest savings shortfalls.

The gap in focus The study draws on current retirees, people already living in retirement rather than approaching it. Three in four is a majority result, not a fringe reading.