People aged between 40 and 49-year-olds are not saving enough for a secure retirement according to research from Scottish Windows.
Just 53 per cent of that age group are on target to have enough money for their retirement, compared to 57 per cent a year ago, according to the research.
“We know that 12 per cent of the UK population are on track for the retirement they want, which leaves a significant proportion of the population falling behind where they need to be.”
This year’s Scottish Widows Pensions Index shows overall retirement savings adequacy stabilising, with increased saving resulting from auto-enrolment offsetting the reduction in reliance on defined benefit pensions.
But Widows has identified a ‘troubling’ trend amongst those in their 40s, with the number of non-savers in this age bracket up to 19 per cent this year, compared to 16 per cent in 2015.
The 53 per cent retirement savings adequacy ratio of those in their 40s is now the same as that for the 30 to 39 age group.
The average income people believe they will need for a comfortable retirement has also increased to £23,990, up from £23,254 in 2015.
In spite of steady savings levels across the board, Widows says the research points to the positive role that auto-enrolment is likely to continue to play in the coming years – with current figures reflecting levels of savings made by many at the very start of their saving journey.
Scottish Widows retirement expert Robert Cochran said: “With three solid years of improvement behind us, it is disappointing to see that savings levels are starting to plateau. Particularly worrying is the fact that savings levels among those in their 40s drop off at a time in life when retirement may be within 20 years.
“The light at the end of the tunnel in this picture is the long-term impact of auto-enrolment, which is clear to see from our twelve years of research. Auto-enrolment has already brought six million new workplace savers into pensions and with the minimum contributions for employers and employees set to rise in coming years, we expect average levels of savings continue will rise.”
Aegon UK pensions director Steven Cameron says: “Irrespective of age, people face barriers to saving. Our own research has shown that 93 per cent of 45 to 54 year olds have encountered barriers, with the cost of living, mortgage loan repayments and family expenses all putting the brakes on people’s pension saving. But deferring pension saving is a risky strategy.
