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Nearly half say it has negatively impacted their retirement savings


6 in 10 Households - 10-2014WINDSOR, Conn., Oct. 30, 2014—A new LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute study finds that 6 in 10 American parents provide financial support to their adult children, which could undermine their retirement readiness.

“Research shows that Millennials have weathered the most significant repercussions from the recent economic downturn. While Millennials are the most educated generation in history, nearly 4 in 10 are unemployed and many more are underemployed1,” said Deb Dupont, associate managing director, LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute. “Parents of Millennials, even those over the age of 22, are providing considerable support to their children at a time in their lives when saving from retirement should be a priority.”

Parents are most likely to help pay for cell phones/mobile service, rent/mortgage, college expense/loans debt, and entertainment — movies, sporting events, etc. (chart). Thirty-seven percent of U.S. households with adult children indicated that they did not provide any financial support.

The study also found that nearly 6 in 10 U.S. households with adult children have at least one adult child living at home. Nearly three quarters of households with adult children ages 18-22 have at least one adult child residing in their home.

“Only 45 percent of parents who have financially supported their adult children in the past year say it has negatively impacted their retirement savings,” noted Dupont. “We believe people are likely to underestimate the collective impact of incremental costs. Prior LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute research found that more than 50 percent of pre-retiree have less than $100,000 in financial assets. Even $100,000 in total savings will not be enough money to fund the 20 to 30 years these individuals are likely to face in retirement.”

The findings are based on a nationally representative survey of 1,009 Americans. The survey was fielded in July 2014.

1Pew Research 

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LIMRA Contacts 

Catherine Theroux, 860-285-7787, ctheroux@limra.com
Mark Morris, 860-285-7875, mmorris@limra.com  

About LIMRA Secure Retirement InstituteTM  

The LIMRA LOMA Secure Retirement Institute provides comprehensive, unbiased research and education about all aspects within the retirement industry to improve retirement readiness and promote retirement security.  For information on the LIMRA LOMA Secure Retirement Institute, visit: www.secureretirementinstitute.com.

Media Contacts

Catherine Theroux

Director, Public Relations

Work Phone: (860) 285-7787

Mobile Phone: (703) 447-3257

ctheroux@limra.com

Brooke Lacey

Senior Public Relations Specialist

Work Phone: (860) 298-3920

Mobile Phone: (413) 530-6184

blacey@limra.com

Bailey Reed

Public Relations/Social Media Specialist

Work Phone: (770) 984-3788

breed@loma.org

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