Prudential survey shows 86% of retirees lack “license to spend” savings on enjoyment

PUBT · 1d ago
Prudential survey shows 86% of retirees lack “license to spend” savings on enjoyment
  • Prudential Financial’s 2026 Retirement Pulse survey flagged a “license to spend” gap as retirees stay reluctant to draw down savings.
  • 86% of respondents did not feel free to spend on enjoyment; 61% of households with $500K+ investable assets said the same.
  • Top spending brakes: Social Security doubts 44%, inflation 42%, healthcare or long-term care costs 34%.
  • Behavioral drag remained high: 54% preferred leaving money behind over risking depletion, rising to 70% among $500K+ households.
  • Planning, withdrawal strategies, pension or annuity-style lifetime income correlated with higher spending comfort; 58% wanted guaranteed basics coverage for life.


Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Prudential Financial Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief via Business Wire (Ref. ID: 20261001595855) on October 01, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.