Retirement ready in 2026?
| Only 40–50% of UK’s Baby Boomers are on track to maintain their current lifestyle in retirement | Only 6% of Gen X have a written retirement plan, despite nearing the end of their working lives | Whatever your level of wealth, expert advice can help bridge the gap between retirement hopes and financial reality |
The start of a new year is an ideal time to assess how ready you are for retirement, and recent research into the UK’s Baby Boomer generation (born 1946–1964) offers a timely reminder of the value of planning ahead.
The study1 found that only 40–50% of Baby Boomers are on track to maintain their current lifestyle or achieve a moderate standard of living in retirement. However, it also revealed a clear divide between those who receive financial advice and those who don’t.
Advised Baby Boomers are significantly more retirement-ready, with 83% on track to reach the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association’s ‘comfortable’ living standard (around £50,900 a year pre-tax budget for an individual, rising to £67,500 for a couple), compared with just 68% of their non-advised peers.
Middle-income earners were found to be particularly vulnerable to falling short, while wealthier Boomers who sought professional advice were best positioned to meet their future spending needs.
Adding to concerns about inadequate retirement planning among those nearing the end of their working lives, a separate study2 found that only 6% of Gen X (born 1965–1983) have a written retirement plan, while 13% have one that isn’t documented. The vast majority admit to having only a vague plan or none at all.
Whatever your level of wealth, the findings underline a simple truth: expert advice can help bridge the gap between retirement hopes and financial reality. In an ever-changing economic landscape, regular reviews and tailored guidance remain key to ensuring lasting financial confidence.
1Vanguard, 2025, 2Just, 2025
The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. The past is not a guide to future performance and past performance may not necessarily be repeated.