Retirement Reconsidered (and Reinvented) 2026: Americans Embrace a More Flexible Path

• F&G's Fourth Annual Retirement Reconsidered Survey Finds That Americans Are Rethinking When They Retire and What Retirement Looks Like
• 51% of Pre-retirees Plan to Semi-retire, While 75% Have Considered or Are Delaying Retirement

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Retirement is becoming less of a single moment when Americans stop working and more of a gradual transition, according to the fourth annual Retirement Reconsidered survey from F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. (NYSE: FG) (F&G), a leading provider of insurance solutions serving retail annuity and life customers and institutional clients. Nearly one third (31%) of surveyed Americans over the age of 50 consider themselves semi-retired or plan to be. More than half of respondents who are not yet retired (51%) say they plan to semi-retire. At the same time, three-quarters (75%) of pre-retirees have considered or are delaying their retirement date, up from 70% in 2025.

Americans Aren't Just Delaying Retirement, They're Redesigning It

The survey underscores how many Americans over age 50 are rethinking retirement and how the traditional definition is evolving to become more flexible and personalized with Generation X (Gen X) and pre-retirees driving this trend. Other key findings include:

• More than half (53%) of Americans ages 50+ agree the journey to retirement is becoming more flexible
• 60% of pre-retirees see retirement as a "gradual transition over time"
• Only 21% of pre-retirees associate retirement with stopping work completely
• Nearly two thirds (65%) of pre-retirees view retirement as an opportunity to reinvent themselves

"Americans, no matter their savings or income bracket, aren't simply reconsidering when they retire; they're reconsidering what retirement itself looks like," said Conor Murphy, CEO and President of F&G. "For some, that means choosing to work less, transitioning gradually into retirement or even reinventing themselves in a new chapter, while for others, original plans are giving way to financial realities. As retirement becomes more flexible and individualized, it's important to provide retirees and pre-retirees with accessible planning solutions to evolve with changing needs and allow for greater certainty and confidence along the way."

Outside Forces Are Reshaping Retirement Plans

Even as retirement itself becomes more flexible, financial and economic pressures continue to reshape Americans' plans. More than half (51%) of pre-retirees surveyed say they expect to retire later than originally planned, up from 45% in 2025. For those considering or delaying retirement, 52% worry they won't have enough money, up from 48% last year.

Other financial uncertainties are also weighing on retirement decisions. Social Security availability (46%) tops the list of factors influencing retirement planning among Americans age 50 and above, followed closely by healthcare/long-term care expenses (43%) and Medicare availability (31%).

The evolution of retirement also comes as Americans age 50 and over report that economic and other external factors are having a greater impact on their decision-making than they did a year ago. More than half (57%) say the events of 2026 have impacted their retirement planning, up from 49% in 2025. Among pre-retirees, that rose to 70%, up from 61% last year.

The impact is even more pronounced among Gen X, with more than two-thirds (68%) saying the events of 2026 have affected their retirement decision-making, up 11 percentage points from last year. By comparison, about half of Baby Boomers (51%) say the same today.

Seeking Predictability in an Uncertain Retirement Landscape

Even as Americans surveyed embrace greater flexibility in how retirement looks, the findings show a strong preference for financial certainty and predictability, alongside concerns about retirement readiness, particularly among Gen X.

Key findings include:

• Three-quarters (75%) would rather have greater financial certainty and predictable income, even if it limits investment growth potential
• Two-thirds (67%) say they feel the need to invest or increase investment in products that deliver guaranteed income in the future, rising to 73% among Gen X
• Only 11% of Gen X give themselves an A for financial readiness as they prepare for retirement, compared with 20% of Americans ages 50+ overall

"The roadmap to retirement is no longer a straight line, which makes personalized financial planning increasingly important," said Ron Barrett, Chief Distribution Officer at F&G. "A financial professional can help individuals think through how their assets will support the different stages of retirement and secure a financial legacy through a customized plan that provides predictability along the way. Guaranteed income products, such as annuities, and protection products, such as indexed universal life insurance, can be important parts of that conversation by helping provide reliable income and greater financial confidence throughout retirement, no matter what path that journey takes."

For more information on F&G's latest survey, please visit fglife.com/research. 

Survey Methodology

This research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2001 US Adults Aged 50+, 'decision-makers' for household finances (or shared decision making), with $100k+ investable assets. The data was collected between 8/4/2026 – 8/31/2026.

About F&G

F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. is committed to helping Americans turn their aspirations into reality. F&G is a leading provider of insurance solutions serving retail annuity and life customers and institutional clients and is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, please visit fglife.com.    

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SOURCE F&G Annuities & Life, Inc.