Global Atlantic 2025 Retirement Outlook Survey

What’s on the minds of investors? To find out, we surveyed 1,009 people between the ages of 55 and 75 with $250K to $2M in investable assets who are working with financial professionals. We also polled 514 financial professionals to see how their attitudes aligned.

The results highlight growing interest in lifetime income and a focus on protection and limiting downside risk. They also reveal an opportunity for financial professionals to strengthen their connections with their clients by focusing on what’s most important to investors. Dig into the stats below and visit our annuities page to learn more about our products. 

A new opportunity

While you and your clients are often aligned, there may be an opportunity to strengthen that bond. We identified three areas where financial professionals and investors can get better connected:

Retirement products that provide a stable rate of return are important

88%

of investors

57%

of financial professionals

Guaranteed income in retirement (other than a pension or Social Security) is important

83%

of investors

46%

of financial professionals

Protecting retirement portfolios to limit downside risk is important

80%

of investors

55%

of financial professionals

Eyeing income 
for life

The survey results make one thing clear: lifetime income is a top priority for many investors.

65%

say creating or utilizing a plan that provides income for life is a financial priority

56%

say protecting assets is more important than growth

52%

say accumulating assets for retirement is a financial priority

Solving the protection puzzle

Our results show that many investors prioritize protecting their retirement savings. But do they feel like they’re doing enough to be adequately protected?

75%

of investors say their financial professional has discussed putting a portion of their portfolio in a product that protects their principal

But only

54%

feel adequately protected from a market downturn

Annuities at
a glance

Given how important investors consider a stable rate of return, protection of initial principal, and guaranteed retirement income, annuities may be an attractive option. And there’s certainly an opportunity for you to discuss them.

74%

have talked to their financial professional about diversifying beyond stocks

71%

of investors have not considered annuities as an alternative to stocks and bonds

46%

of investors have spoken with their financial professional about annuities

“I like the opportunity to offer an element of downside protection …”

What financial professionals are saying about annuities

“RILAs can be a great tool that allow clients to participate in the upside through index crediting but also have a portion of their downside protected from risk at the end of the Strategy Term.”

“I've witnessed over the past 12 years the performance of RILA products and have been very impressed.”

Getting better connected

How can you get better connected with investors? If you have clients who prioritize the potential for stable returns, lifetime income, and an element of downside protection, you may want to consider discussing annuities as an alternative allocation strategy.

Global Atlantic 2025 Retirement Insights Survey consisted of surveying 1,009 investors with $250K to $2M in investable assets, ages 55 to 75 and that work with a financial professional. Conducted from December 6 to 26, 2024.