FINANCIALLY FOCUSED

May 2026 Newsletter

HOW LONG WILL YOUR RETIREMENT ACTUALLY LAST?

How long will your retirement last? It's a question many Americans haven't thought through carefully enough, and the answer may surprise you.

According to a March 2026 report from the TIAA Institute, only about one-third of Americans can correctly answer a basic question about how much longer a 65-year-old woman is likely to live.

The correct answer, which is roughly 22 more years, to age 87, stumps many people. That knowledge gap has real consequences for retirement planning.

The Numbers May Surprise You

The life expectancy figures most of us learned in school are calculated at birth. But here's the key insight: life expectancy rises with age. A man who turns 65 today can expect to live another 19 years, to around age 84. A woman of the same age will live nearly 22 more years on average.

Simply put, the longer you live, the longer you're likely to keep living.

Underestimating Can Be Costly

When people underestimate how long they'll live, they tend to plan for a shorter retirement and that can be a costly mistake. More than half of those who underestimated life expectancy said they expected to live fewer than 20 years after retiring, an estimate that's likely too low.

Many Americans retire in their early 60s. Many financial services professionals suggest preparing for a retirement that’s 30 years or more, depending on your personal situations and needs.

When gauging your own longevity, resist relying solely on family history. Life expectancy tends to improve with each generation.

Talk with your financial services professional about building a strategy designed to help you go the distance!

WHAT WE’RE READING

Here are four of our favorite recent financial news stories:

• If the ins and outs of long-term care insurance leaves you feeling baffled and overwhelmed, the AARP article, This Isn’t Your Parents’ Long-Term Care Insurance, is a can’t-miss read.
• Many people, as they draw close to retirement, often look around and say to themselves, “Where did all this stuff come from!” A Kiplinger article, 5 Myths Keeping You From Getting Rid of Your Stuff, has great insight into paring back your possessions.
• Many financial services professionals will tell you that doing all you can to maintain your health may help your money last longer, and the U.S. News and World Report article, How Music Rewires the Aging Mind, explains how music may positively impact your health.
• As you likely already know, many people list travel as their top retirement goal, and the  Travel and Leisure magazine article, 17 Trips You Need to Take as Soon as You Retire, has potential trips you’ll probably want to add to your bucket list.

SOURCES

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/03/14/how-long-does-retirement-last/89104038007/

https://www.tiaa.org/public/institute/publication/2026/longevity-expectations-and-retirement-readiness

https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/hybrid-ltc-life-insurance/?src=psn

https://www.kiplinger.com/article/real-estate/t029-c000-s002-myths-keeping-you-from-getting-rid-of-your-stuff.html

https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/the-power-of-music-for-older-adults

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/trips-to-take-when-you-retire

Links to third-party articles are provided for convenience; we do not control or guarantee the accuracy of third-party content, and such links should not be viewed as an endorsement.

Financial Services Professional and their company are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.

PEACH BRUSCHETTA WITH WHIPPED RICOTTA

Sweet, juicy peaches and creamy whipped ricotta make this peach bruschetta a fresh twist on a classic appetizer. Layered onto crisp toasted bread and finished with a touch of honey, herbs, or balsamic, it strikes the perfect balance of bright, savory, and slightly sweet flavors. It is an easy, elegant recipe that feels special enough for entertaining but simple enough to enjoy any time.

Let's Get Cooking

Jeffrey Bird, Ronald Bird and Andrew Bird offer Investment Advisory Services through Gradient Advisors, LLC (Arden Hills, MN 877-885-0508), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Gradient Advisors, LLC and its advisors do not render tax, legal, or accounting advice. Financial Concepts, Inc is not a registered investment advisor and is independent of Gradient Advisors, LLC. Insurance products and services are offered through Jeffrey Bird, Ronald Bird and Andrew Bird, independent agents.

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Financial Concepts, Inc, Jeffrey Bird, Ronald Bird, Andrew Bird and Gradient Advisors, LLC are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.