Obtaining Financial Security

Ways to increase your financial security this year.

As we close out the first quarter of 2026, it may be a good time for many of you to step back and evaluate progress toward your long-term financial goals, especially retirement. New research has highlighted that retirement readiness isn’t a single milestone but an ongoing journey.

Recent findings in J.P. Morgan’s Retirement by the Numbers report shows that many Americans still face two major obstacles on the path to retirement security: saving enough for the future and managing the financial pressures of everyday life.

Challenge 1 – The Retirement Savings Gap

While most people understand the importance of saving for retirement, many still aren’t contributing enough. Average contribution rates across age groups remain below recommended levels, with many workers saving less than 10% of their income while experts typically suggest saving 10%–15% to stay on track. Even small changes, like increasing retirement contributions by just 1% early in your career, could potentially add tens of thousands of dollars to your retirement balance over time.

Challenge 2 – Managing Day-to-Day Financial Pressures

Mid-career workers often deal with competing priorities like supporting children, caring for aging parents, or paying down debt. Unexpected financial shocks such as medical expenses and job changes can also make it difficult to stay on track. In many cases, workers rely on credit cards or retirement plan loans when these situations arise. But by building emergency savings, reducing your highest-interest debt, and maintaining consistent contributions, you can help protect retirement savings for the long run.

What This Means Moving Forward

The biggest takeaway from the report is that retirement planning works best when it’s approached as part of a broader financial strategy. That simply means making sure to contribute consistently to retirement accounts, increasing your savings rates when possible, managing debt, maintaining liquidity, and reviewing your financial plan regularly!

If you’d like to review your retirement strategy or discuss ways to strengthen your plan moving forward, we’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule a conversation!