Americans say they’re ready for retirement — but most aren’t actually prepared. How to know which camp you belong to

If you are planning to retire next year, do you feel ready? If you answered yes, do you feel financially prepared to do so? If you answered maybe or no to the second question, you're likely in the majority.

That was the finding of a survey by Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax of 1,000 Americans who are over 55 and planning to retire in 2026.

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So, what is the difference between feeling ready and being prepared? And what is making Americans feel less confident regarding their financial readiness?

When asked if they would retire in 2026 as planned, 60% of the survey respondents said they were very confident they would do so.

But when asked about financial preparedness, only 27% of respondents said they felt very financially prepared; 53% said they felt "somewhat prepared," and 18%, nearly one in five, said that they felt "not very or not prepared at all."