# The Retirement Crisis Nobody's Talking About: 35% of Americans Just Gave Up

Here's the harsh reality: over one-third of U.S. adults have decided to push back retirement or abandon the timeline altogether. New York Life's survey of 2,262 Americans spilled the tea on what's actually breaking people's retirement dreams.

**The Trifecta of Pain:**
- Insufficient savings hits hardest (51% citing this)
- Inflation eating their lunch (46%)
- Economic whiplash (32%)

But here's what's wild: the average American age 65-74 has stashed away $200K—Fidelity says you need $560K+. That gap? It's the whole problem right there.

**What's really messing things up:**
Nine out of ten Americans (92%) are sweating about market conditions. Top worries? Cost of living surge (63%), everyday expenses spiraling (55%), and the ability to actually save anything (46%).

Half of respondents (53%) have already pivoted their retirement playbook. Some are grinding longer (16%), others are debt-crushing mode (23%).

Bonus red flag: 45% haven't even factored in healthcare and long-term care costs. And 32% are straight-up unsure if their savings will outlast them.

The generational breakdown shows millennials and boomers are slightly ahead on savings rates (43% each), but Gen X (38%) and Gen Z (36%) are scrambling.

TransAmerica's latest data shows the goalpost keeps moving—20-somethings think they need $300K to feel secure but only have $43K saved. By the time you hit 50-59, the target jumps to $600K while actual savings hover around $112K.

TL;DR: Retirement planning just got way more complicated, and most Americans aren't ready for it.