New research came out recently spotlighting the importance of what our Quantum financial advisor partners do every day for their clients when it comes to retirement income planning, versus consumers who may still just be told to follow the 4% rule.
Three studies published in June 2026 all illustrate the same problem. American workers have steadily built up 401(k) account balances, but they remain poorly prepared to spend down those savings once they retire and paychecks stop. Nearly 80 million Americans have a 401(k), but most leave the workforce without a strategy for turning their savings into sustainable income.
A Corebridge study showed that of those with a 401(k) account, only 28% of people feel comfortable with decumulation; the rest of the retirees they surveyed are suffering anxiety over withdrawals.
And even people who feel confident they’ve saved enough in their 401(k) are fearful about taking distributions from their accounts. The result is that people who have saved all their lives to enjoy their retirement are suffering stress about drawing down those savings because of inflation fears, rising healthcare costs, and legislative inaction on Social Security.
Having a written retirement plan in place can really help, but few people have one.
For instance, just 14% of retirees say they have a detailed strategy to manage their RMDs (required minimum distributions), and only 29% of pre-retirees aged 55 or older have a plan for retirement account withdrawals. For the people who have a plan, nearly 60% felt “highly confident” about managing their spending as opposed to 29% percent without one.
Research shows that a lack of a withdrawal strategy forces 38% of retirees to cut back on spending. And even more new data showed that the number of people who fear outliving their retirement savings more then they fear death is at an all-time high of 67%!
Aging expert, Ken Dychtwald, says we are living through a longevity revolution. He says that boomers no longer view retirement as permanent leisure, but instead, they want reinvention, flexibility and continued engagement. For advisors, that means retirement planning can no longer focus solely on portfolios and withdrawal rates. “I think more financial companies are going to have to wake up and realize that some sort of guaranteed-income framework is a necessity for at least half the population,” Dychtwald said.
While many advisors are not prepared to help clients who may spend 30+ years in retirement, our partners are. Call us to find out more about how Quantum can help you help retirement clients, and grow your financial advisory practice at the same time: 800.440.1088.
Sources:
https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/07/13/how-to-help-clients-fund-the-retirement-life-they-truly-want
Cameron partners with financial professionals who specialize in retirement and income planning. He manages the complicated product landscape by utilizing his extensive knowledge of product positioning and case design. Read More
