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Inflation is why many Americans plan to delay retirement: survey

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Rejoining the workforce after retirement is not always driven by finances, a recent study said. (iStock)

Inflation is moderating, but an increasing number of Americans that are nearing retirement or have already retired are considering delaying their plans or returning to the workforce because of rising prices, a recent survey said.

More than two out of three (68%) of pre-retirees plan to push back their retirement – compared to 64% last year, according to the F&G Annuities & Life survey. Forty-four percent said inflation was the reason why they were altering their plans.  Inflation moderated to 3% in June after reaching a 40-year high two years before. However, the lingering effects of high prices have remained, and the Federal Reserve’s quest to lower inflation by raising interest rates has also increased borrowing rates on everything from car loans to home loans. 

Respondents also cited other reasons for returning to the workforce, saying it  also also offered them an intellectual challenge. A third of people (33%) who are either considering or have pushed back their retirement said they were doing it because they loved what they did for work. The same percentage said they enjoyed the stimulation of working.

“This remains a challenging macroeconomic environment to navigate for those close to or in retirement,” F&G CEO Chris Blunt said. “As our survey shows, Americans are still reconsidering what retirement means to them, which may look different from previous generations. We believe taking a proactive approach in financial planning can help mitigate some of the economic risks, allowing people to focus on their own personalized roadmap of how and when to retire.”

If you’re struggling to save for retirement in the current economy, you could consider paying down high-interest debt with a personal loan at a lower interest rate, which can help you lower your monthly payments. Visit Credible to compare options from multiple lenders at once and choose the one that’s the best for you.

MOST HOMEOWNERS WOULD RATHER REMODEL THEIR HOME THAN BUY ANOTHER HOME: STUDY

Gen X most impacted by high prices

Generation X is the most concerned over the impact of inflation on their retirement plans, with 71% saying they are considering or have pushed back their planned retirement date, up from 65% last year, according to the survey. 

Beyond inflation, 49% of Generation Xers said they were worried they hadn’t saved enough money to retire and 42% said they wanted more financial options and a larger safety net.  

“As Gen Xers near retirement, our study shows that their worries are heightened,” F&G President John Currier said. “Having the right advice and financial tools can help alleviate these concerns, including engaging with a financial professional and considering products like fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) and registered index-linked annuities (RILAs) that can provide a mix of upside potential and downside protection.”

If you are preparing for your retirement, you could consider using a personal loan to help you pay off debt at a lower interest rate, saving you money each month. You can visit Credible to find your personalized interest rate without affecting your credit score.

AMERICANS TYPICALLY SPEND ABOUT 24% OF THEIR INCOME ON MORTGAGE PAYMENTS

Workers estimated they need $1.5 million to retire

Workers said they needed to save $1.5 million to retire comfortably, yet many are far from that target, according to a Northwestern Mutual survey. A third of workers said they had less than $50,000 in savings and investments, and 14% had less than $1,000.

Among the generations closest to retirement, only half of Boomers (49%) and Gen Xers (48%) believe they will be financially prepared to retire comfortably, with many expecting that they will likely outlive their savings. Even more problematic is that while many older Americans across both generations anticipate a retirement shortfall, more than a third (37% and 38%, respectively) have not addressed it.

“People’s ‘magic number’ to retire comfortably has exploded to an all-time high, and the gap between their goals and progress has never been wider,” Aditi Javeri Gokhale, Northwestern Mutual chief strategy officer, head of institutional investments and president of retail investments, said in a statement. “Inflation is expanding our expectations for retirement savings, and putting the pressure on to plan and stay disciplined.” 

If high-interest debt is preventing you from saving more for retirement, you could consider paying it off with a personal loan at a lower interest rate. Visit Credible to find your personalized rate in minutes without affecting your credit score.

71% OF AMERICANS WAITING ON INTEREST RATE CUTS BEFORE HUNTING FOR HOMES: SURVEY

Have a finance-related question, but don’t know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at [email protected] and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.

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Walmart taps own fintech firm for credit cards after Capital One exit

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A Capital One Walmart credit card sign is seen at a store in Mountain View, California, United States on Tuesday, November 19, 2019.

Yichuan Cao | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Walmart‘s majority-owned fintech startup OnePay said Monday it was launching a pair of new credit cards for customers of the world’s biggest retailer.

OnePay is partnering with Synchrony, a major behind-the-scenes player in retail cards, which will issue the cards and handle underwriting decisions starting in the fall, the companies said.

OnePay, which was created by Walmart in 2021 with venture firm Ribbit Capital, will handle the customer experience for the card program through its mobile app.

Walmart had leaned on Capital One as the exclusive provider of its credit cards since 2018, but sued the bank in 2023 so that it could exit the relationship years ahead of schedule. At the time, Capital One accused Walmart of seeking to end its partnership so that it could move transactions to OnePay.

The Walmart card program had 10 million customers and roughly $8.5 billion in loans outstanding last year, when the partnership with Capital One ended, according to Fitch Ratings.

For Walmart and its fintech firm, the arrangement shows that, in seeking to quickly scale up in financial services, OnePay is opting to partner with established players rather than going it alone.

In March, OnePay announced that it was tapping Swedish fintech firm Klarna to handle buy now, pay later loans at the retailer, even after testing its own installment loan program.

One-stop shop

In its quest to become a one-stop shop for Americans underserved by traditional banks, OnePay has methodically built out its offerings, which now include debit cards, high-yield savings accounts and a digital wallet with peer-to-peer payments.

OnePay is rolling out two options: a general-purpose credit card that can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted and a store card that will only allow Walmart purchases.

Customers whose credit profiles don’t allow them to qualify for the general-purpose card will be offered the store card, according to a person with knowledge of the program.

OnePay didn’t yet disclose the rewards expected with the cards, though the general-purpose card is expected to provide a stronger value, said this person, who declined to be identified speaking ahead of the product’s release. The Synchrony partnership was reported earlier by Bloomberg.

“Our goal with this credit card program is to deliver an experience for consumers that’s transparent, rewarding, and easy to use,” OnePay CEO Omer Ismail said in the Monday release.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Synchrony to launch a program at Walmart that checks each of those boxes and will help serve millions of people,” Ismail said.

Read more: Klarna, nearing IPO, plucks lucrative Walmart fintech partnership from rival Affirm

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