Overview

• Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning & Progress Study reports 54% of Gen Xers don’t think they’ll be financially ready to retire.
• Respondents say they will need about $1.57 million for a comfortable retirement, roughly $310,000 above the national average target.
• More than half of Gen Xers (56%) believe they will outlive their savings, and nearly half (48%) expect to work during retirement.
• Many are squeezed by sandwich‑generation duties, with 61% living in multigenerational homes that elevate day‑to‑day costs.
• Analysts note Gen X absorbed steep losses during the Great Recession—median net worth down about 38%—while relying more on defined‑contribution plans than pensions.