BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The United States ranks 14th for retirement security, according to the 2016 Global Retirement Index, released today by Natixis Global Asset Management. The index examines key factors that drive retirement security and provides a comparison tool for best practices in retirement policy across 43 countries.
Among the leading countries for retirement security identified by the Index, Northern Europe dominates the top 10, including Norway at No. 1, followed by Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden, Germany, The Netherlands and Austria. They are joined by New Zealand (No. 4), Australia (No. 6) and Canada (No. 10).
“Retirement used to be simple: Individuals worked and saved, employers provided a pension, and payroll taxes funded government benefits, resulting in a predictable income stream for a financially secure retirement,” said John Hailer, CEO of Natixis Global Asset Management in the Americas and Asia. “Demographics and economics have rendered the old model unsustainable, but the leaders in our index are finding innovative ways to adapt to the new reality and provide a blueprint for the rest of the world.”
The Natixis Global Retirement Index, introduced in 2013, creates an overall retirement security score based on four factors that affect the lives of retirees. Finances in retirement are an important component, but three other sub-indices that gauge material wellbeing, health, and quality of life are included to provide a more holistic view. With this year’s edition, Natixis has focused on a smaller number of countries than in the past, mainly developed economies where retirement is a pressing social and economic issue.
Despite many positives, warning signs clear for the U.S.
The U.S. ranking benefits from high per capita income, the stability of its financial institutions and its low rate of inflation, according to index data compiled by Natixis. In addition, the nation’s unemployment rate has moved lower, continuing a long-term trend.
In contrast to these positive factors, the U.S. also has one of the highest levels of income inequality among developed nations, putting the goal of retirement savings beyond the reach of millions. The U.S. also has a growing ratio of retirees to employment-age adults, which means there are fewer workers to support programs such as Social Security and Medicare, putting increasing pressure on those government resources over time. That trend, combined with the broader shift from defined-benefit to defined-contribution employer retirement plans, is transferring the burden of retirement financing to individuals.
Americans recognize the shift in funding responsibility
American investors are acutely aware of increasing the need for individuals to fund a greater share of retirement. In a survey of investors conducted by Natixis earlier this year, 75% said this responsibility increasingly lands on their shoulders.
However, many Americans may be underestimating how much money they need to save in order to retire comfortably. Investors estimate they will need to replace only 63% of their current income when they retire, well short of the 75% to 80% generally assumed by planning professionals.1
In addition, a large segment of Americans simply doesn’t have access to employer-sponsored savings programs such as 401(k) plans. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that one-third of the nation’s workforce doesn’t have access to a retirement plan. A separate Natixis survey of participants in defined-contribution plans found that, even when they have access to a plan, four in 10 contribute less than 5% of their annual salary.2
U.S. investors see clear hurdles to financial security in retirement, identifying their three greatest challenges as long-term care and healthcare costs, not saving enough, and outliving their assets. When asked how they would make up for an income shortfall, two-thirds of U.S. investors say they will continue to work in retirement.
“Americans must come to grips with their increasing responsibility for their own retirement security,” said Ed Farrington, Executive Vice President of Retirement Services for Natixis Global Asset Management. “The leading nations in our research are developing effective solutions, but we also need greater commitment by decision makers, engagement by individuals and a willingness to learn from the experiences of other countries around the world.”
Four Global Trends
Policymakers and employers can learn from four major trends that characterize the top-ranked nations.
1. Access: An aging workforce and increased lifespans in many Western countries have made traditional pay-as-you-go models for government retirement benefits unsustainable. As individuals assume greater responsibility for their retirement funding, public policy makers in leading countries must ensure that workers have access to individual or work-based savings programs.
2. Incentives: Smart policy expands incentives for individuals to save for retirement in order to help reduce the long-term challenges in providing support for retirees. Favorable tax treatment for retirement savings helps workers put away more money, making it more likely they can take care of their own needs.
3. Engagement: Automatic enrollment in workplace retirement plans is a step in the right direction. Good policy also may ensure that workers have the right balance of investments and enough information to help them maximize the benefits of plan participation.
4. Economics: Retirement security extends beyond the savings vehicles themselves. It includes consideration for an aging population that will be living on a fixed income. Monetary, fiscal and healthcare policies all play roles in ensuring that retirees are self-sufficient.
“The U.S. faces the stark proposition of fewer workers supporting more retirees, and it is up to policymakers, employers and the investment industry to find innovative solutions to ensure workers have the tools and incentives they need to save enough for retirement,” Hailer said. “Achieving retirement security is a daunting goal, but it is within reach if everyone does their part. Failure is not an option.”
To see the 2016 Natixis Global Retirement Index and download the full report, go to durableportfolios.com/Global-Retirement-Index-2016.
Methodology
The Global Retirement Index was compiled by Natixis Global Asset Management with support from CoreData Research, a U.K.-based financial research firm. The index includes International Monetary Fund (IMF) advanced economies, members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China). The report captured data from a variety of sources, including the World Bank. The researchers calculated a mean score in each category and combined the category scores for a final overall ranking of the 43 nations studied.
About Natixis Global Asset Management
Natixis Global Asset Management serves thoughtful investment professionals with more insightful ways to understand and manage risk. Through our Durable Portfolio Construction® approach, we help them construct more strategic portfolios that seek to produce better outcomes in today’s unpredictable markets. We draw from deep investor and industry insights and partner closely with our clients to put objective data behind the discussion.
Natixis is ranked among the world’s largest asset management firms.3Uniting over 20 specialized investment managers globally ($884.9 billion AUM2), we bring a diverse range of solutions tailored to meet every strategic challenge. From insight to action, Natixis helps our clients better serve their own with more durable portfolios.
Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.’s assets under management totaled $884.9 billion (€776.4 billion) as of March 31, 2016.2 Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is part of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.’s affiliated investment management firms and distribution and service groups include Active Investment Advisors;3 AEW Capital Management; AEW Europe; AlphaSimplex Group; Axeltis; Darius Capital Partners; DNCA Investments;4 Dorval Finance;5 Emerise;6 Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management;5 Harris Associates; IDFC Asset Management Company; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Managed Portfolio Advisors;3 McDonnell Investment Management; Mirova;5 Natixis Asset Management; Ossiam; Seeyond;7 Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; Vega Investment Managers; and Natixis Global Asset Management Private Equity, which includes Seventure Partners, Naxicap Partners, Alliance Entreprendre, Euro Private Equity, Caspian Private Equity and Eagle Asia Partners. Visit ngam.natixis.com for more information.
More about John Hailer, CEO of the Americas and Asia, Natixis Global Asset Management
John Hailer is responsible for distribution strategies worldwide and oversees the business activities of the firm’s asset management affiliates in the Americas and Asia. He is a key spokesperson for the Durable Portfolio Construction Research Center and has worked to position Natixis as a global solutions provider for clients worldwide.
1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2015 ranked Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. as the 17th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2014.
2 Net asset value as of March 31, 2016. Assets under management (AUM) may include assets for which non-regulatory AUM services are provided. Non-regulatory AUM includes assets which do not fall within the SEC’s definition of ‘regulatory AUM’ in Form ADV, Part 1.
3 A division of NGAM Advisors, L.P.
4 A brand of DNCA Finance.
5 A subsidiary of Natixis Asset Management.
6 A brand of Natixis Asset Management and Natixis Asset Management Asia Limited, based in Singapore and Paris.
7 A brand of Natixis Asset Management.
1 Natixis Global Asset Management, Global Survey of Individual Investors conducted by CoreData Research, February 2016.
2 Natixis Global Asset Management, Survey of U.S. Defined Contribution Plan Participants conducted by CoreData Research, August 2015.
3 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2016 ranked Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. as the 16th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2015.
