A 2026 Nationwide Advisor Authority (Note 1) study found that 55% of people who retired in the last five years regret how they saved for retirement.
Let that sink in.
More than half.
And the regrets aren’t small.
- 28% wish they had started saving earlier
- 13% wish they had contributed more each year
- Only 40% say they’re on track with their original retirement budget
- 21% are spending more conservatively than they expected
- But this isn’t just a “save more money” story.
It’s a transition story.
Decumulation Is Harder Than Accumulation
For 30–40 years, retirement planning is about growth.
Then suddenly it flips:
- From earning → withdrawing
- From accumulating → protecting
- From paycheck → portfolio
That psychological shift is enormous.
The study shows:
- 50% of recent retirees changed their portfolios because of market turbulence
- 47% say volatility changed how they spend or withdraw money
- 60% struggle adjusting to life without a paycheck
Notice that last phrase.
Not “without a job” but without a paycheck.
Income isn’t just math. It’s emotional stability. It’s identity. It’s rhythm.
And most retirees weren’t prepared for that shift.
The Fragile Window: The First Two Years
Financial professionals report that the first two years of retirement are uniquely challenging.
This is the vulnerable window where:
- Market volatility feels personal
- Spending decisions feel permanent
- Regret starts forming
- Confidence can erode quickly
If retirement is going to wobble, it wobbles here.
Which raises an uncomfortable truth: Many people retire without designing this transition phase.
They pick a date.
They run the numbers.
They step away.
But they haven’t redesigned income.
They haven’t rehearsed identity.
They haven’t stress-tested spending.
That’s where regret creeps in.
What This Means for Retirement by Design
Retirement by Design exists to prevent preventable regret. This research reinforces five essential principles:
1. Pre-retirement (Pre-Go) Is Critical
The transition needs a runway. Phased work. Income redesign. Identity experimentation. Optionality before the paycheck disappears.
2. Secure the Floor
Only 20% of retirees rely solely on guaranteed income sources like pensions or Social Security. Predictable income creates psychological freedom. Without it, people monitor portfolios obsessively and underspend out of fear.
3. Plan for Longevity
Healthcare costs and longevity risk are rising concerns. Planning for decline isn’t pessimism. It’s maturity.
4. Budgeting Is Behavioral
Only 40% are on track with their decumulation plan. The issue isn’t just math. It’s expectations, lifestyle clarity, and emotional spending patterns.
5. Retirement Is an Identity Shift
If 60% struggle adjusting to life without a paycheck, this is not just financial planning territory. This is psychological transition work.
The Bigger Insight
The study’s headline says retirees regret how they saved. But the deeper message is this:
They regret decisions made too quickly — or without full awareness of what retirement would actually feel like.
Retirement isn’t a finish line.
It’s a redesign.
The earlier that redesign begins — especially in the Pre-Go phase — the fewer regrets tend to follow.
If you’re approaching retirement, ask yourself:
- What does “enough” actually mean?
- How will income feel when it stops?
- What structure replaces work?
- What would my 85-year-old self want me to decide today?
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s fewer preventable regrets.
Note 1: If the article does not load, search for: “Recent retirees battle with unexpected financial challenges, regret retirement savings strategies”
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Dr. Kevin Nourse is a certified retirement coach helping people flourish in retirement. He founded Nourse Leadership Strategies, a coaching firm based in Southern California. Contact him at 760.237.0045 or kevin@nourseleadership.com
(C) Kevin Nourse, 2026
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This blog is part of a broader body of work on leadership transitions, executive development, and Retirement by Design.