Key Takeaways
- According to a new study released by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, not even half (42%) of people in the middle class say financial planning is one of their top priorities.
- That’s less than those who say that enjoying life (63%) and being healthy and fit (61%) are top priorities.
- You can do all three things: enjoy life, stay healthy, and plan for your financial future. It just takes a little work.
Putting Off Saving for Retirement
Planning for your financial future is tough. Even when you have goals and a savings plan in place, life can get in the way. You might face an emergency that means you can’t contribute to your retirement accounts for a little while, or you might even need to take a loan from your 401(k). Then there’s the day-to-day distractions that keep you from prioritizing saving for retirement and other big goals—your hobbies, social events, and more. Like many Americans, you might simply want to spend your money on things that bring you joy in the here and now, and put off the future.
People Really Care About Health and Happiness
The 25th annual Transamerica Retirement Survey found that more Americans prioritize their health and their happiness over planning for their financial futures.
The survey found that 63% of middle-class Americans say enjoying life is a top priority, 61% say being healthy and fit is a top priority, and not even half (42%) say financial planning is a top priority.
Fast Fact
74% of middle class adults ages 70 and older say that their time and energy go towards enjoying life, while only 53% of twenty-somethings report enjoyment of life as a primary focus.
Those in their 30s and 50s are slightly more likely to prioritize their financial future than the average, according to the survey: 50% and 49%, compared to 42%, respectively.
Although the majority of middle-class adults focus primarily on their health and happiness (rather than their future), some do have retirement savings and a plan for the future.
However, according to the survey, only 25% of adults in the middle class have a written plan for retirement, and 49% have an unwritten plan. And 26% don’t have a plan at all.
The Top Priorities of the Middle Class
Life Priority
Percentage of the Middle Class Reporting This as a Priority
Enjoying Life
63%
Fitness and Health
61%
Family
42%
Financial Planning for the Future
42%
Career
25%
Living a More Sustainable Life
25%
Giving Back to the Community
22%
Lifelong Learning
21%
Caregiving
15%
Source: “Retirement Throughout the Ages: The American Middle Class” (October 2025), Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies
Can You Save for Retirement and Still Prioritize Health and Happiness?
The good news is that there are many ways that you can prepare yourself for financial security in retirement now, whether you’ve already established a savings plan or you haven’t yet had the time to step away from life’s demands to learn how to prepare for retirement.
Whether you’re someone who thrives on your gym membership or feels revived with beach vacations, you can enjoy the fun parts of life now while also setting yourself up for a secure retirement.
Here are a few ideas.
- Automate savings by creating monthly or weekly automatic transfers into the savings account you’ve set up for your big goal—retirement or otherwise. With automation, you don’t have to think about saving. It’s done for you.
- Use apps to help you save and plan for retirement. These apps can set you up for automatic contributions to a Roth independent retirement account (IRA), for example, and help you create a long-term plan for your savings. There’s also Retirement Planner for Android.
- Spend a few minutes learning about smart money habits. Whether you’re waiting for a group fitness class to begin or you’re relaxing in front of the pool, take a few minutes to boost your financial literacy.
- Create an emergency fund. Experts suggest you save three to six months of your expenses in this fund.
- Instead of waiting to save, pay yourself first.
- Set up a consultation with a financial planner. They can help you be sure that you’re preparing for your future while enjoying the present.