Retirement confidence drops for homeowners approaching age 65 study finds

Retirement confidence among United States homeowners aged 55 to 64 lags behind all older age groups examined, according to a report published by MPA Magazine citing a study by Longbridge Financial. The research indicates that where a household holds its wealth is the primary driver of this divide, rather than the total amount of wealth held. [1]

MPA Magazine and Mortgage Professional America both report that the findings come from the second volume of the 2026 Longbridge Financial Home Equity Confidence Index, titled The Retirement Confidence Divide. The study rests on data collected by Morning Consult from 2,021 United States homeowners who are 55 years old and older, surveyed between March 26 and April 5. [1][2]

In developed economies, official retirement ages typically range from 65 to 67 years. However, the average exit from the workforce in the United States occurred at age 62 in 2025. Defined-contribution plans such as 401(k) accounts have largely replaced traditional defined-benefit pensions, shifting the financial responsibility of retirement savings onto individual workers. [5]